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fijc  fife  anlr  ^ibentures 

OF 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH: 

COMPRISING 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  IIIS  TRAVELS 

IN 

EUROPE,  ASIA,  AFRICA,  AND  AMERICA. 


ALSO, 

THE  EARLY  HISTORY  OF  VIRGINIA  AND  NEW  ENGLAND; 

INCLUDING 

SKETCHES  OF  POCAHONTAS,  POWHATAN,  OPECHANCANOUGH, 
AND  OTHER  DISTINGUISHED  CHARACTERS. 


PRINCIPALLY  COMPILED  FROM  HIS  OWN  WORKS. 


BY  W.  C.  ARMSTRONG. 

HARTFORD; 

SILAS  ANDRUS  & SON. 

1 855. 


H OOU.EGE  LIBRARY 
tT«UT  HILL.  MASS. 


F 

S'!  ft 


ENTERED,  ACCORDING  TO  ACT  OF  CONGRESS,  IN  THE  YEAR  1854,  BY 

SILAS  ANDKUS  AND  SON, 

IN  THE  CLERK’S  OFFICE  OF  THE  DISTRICT  COURT  OF  CONNECTICUT 


FOUNDRY  OF  SILAS  ANDRUS  AND  SON,  HARTFORD. 
Press  of  W.  S.  Williams. 


O’NEILL  LIBRARY 

BOSTON  COLLEGE  l-*' 


Sjebicnteh 

TO 

THE  PATRONS  OF  AUTHENTIC  HISTORY, 

AND 

TO  THE  SMITH  FAMILY  IN  PARTICULAR, 
THROUGHOUT  THE  UNITED  STATES 

AND  THE  WORLD  AT  LARGE. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE 

Birth  and  Parentage  of  Smith—  Propensity  for  Adventure 
— Death  of  his  Father — Apprenticed  to  a Merchant — 
Clandestine  Trip  to  France — War  in  the  Netherlands 
— Visits  Scotland — Turns  Hermit —Tries  his  Fortune 
again  in  France — Is  thrown  into  the  Sea — His  Rescue 
— Desperate  Encounter  and  Victory — Immense  Booty,  13 

CHAPTER  II. 

Smith  travels  in  Italy  and  the  South  of  Europe — Enters 
the  Emperor’s  Service — Ingenious  Telegraph — Success 
at  Olympach — Smith’s  Promotion — Siege  of  Alba  Rega- 
lis — Efficiency  of  the  Fiery  Dragons — the  Christians 
Victorious — Battle  of  Girke — Death  of  Duke  Mercury,  21 

CHAPTER  III. 

Smith  enlists  with  Meldritch  in  the  Service  of  Sigismund 
— Regall  Besieged — Challenge  from  the  Turks — Smith 
slays  Three  in  Single  Combat — Both  Armies  finally  En- 
counter— the  Christians  again  Victorious — Honors  and 
Pension  to  Smith, 32 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Sigismund  concludes  a Treaty  of  Peace — Transfer  of  the 
Army — Revolt  of  Wallachia — Defeat  of  the  Rebels  with 
Great  Slaughter — Encounter  with  the  Tartars — “A  Pret- 
ty Stratagem”  by  Smith — Battle  of  Rotenton — Prowess 
of  Smith — His  Wounds,  Capture,  and  Slavery — Charatza 
Tragabigzanda — Kills  his  Master — Escapes — Diploma 
of  his  Honors — Visits  Africa — Desperate  Engagement 
at  Sea — Returns  to  England — Muley  Hamet — Lions,  . 39 


8 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  V.  page 

American  Settlements  in  Embryo — Smith  and  Gosnold 
plan  an  Expedition — Company  Formed,  and  Letters  Pat- 
ent granted — Newport  selected  to  command  the  Vessels 
— The  Colonists  leave  England — Early  Dissensions — 
Smith  made  a Prisoner — Arrival — Landing- — Council — 
James  River — Explorations — Natives — Site  for  Town,  . 61 

CHAPTER  VI. 

The  Council  inaugurated,  and  Smith  excluded — Wing-field 
elected  as  President — Magnanimity  of  Smith — Remarks 
on  the  Position  and  Character  of  the  Colonists — Busy 
Scenes  of  clearing  away  the  Forest,  devising  a Fort, 
and  building  Habitations — Smith’s  Perilous  Surveying 
Expedition — Number  of  Tribes  ascertained — Courteous 
Reception  by  Powhatan — Jamestown  attacked,  and  the 
Enemy  repulsed, 70 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Smith  demands  a Trial : Honorable  Results — Newport 
sails  for  England — Scarcity  of  Provisions — Sickness — 
Injustice  of  Wingfield,  who  is  deposed,  and  Ratcliffe 
elected  in  his  place — Smith’s  Diligence  in  providing 
for  the  Settlers : His  Explorations  and  Discoveries — 
Conspiracy  of  Wingfield  and  Kendall  defeated— En- 
counter with  Opechancanough — Exploits  and  Capture 
of  Smith  : His  Remarkable  Adventures  among  the  Sav- 
ages : their  Wonder  excited  by  his  Feats  of  “ Sorcery  ” 

— Jamestown  saved  through  his  Efforts — The  Indian’s 
Idea  of  Gunpowder — Powhatan  dooms  Smith  to  Death 
— Pocahontas  preserves  his  Life — Curious  Attempt  to 
Frighten  Smith  : his  Return  to  Jamestown 74 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Smith’s  Artifice — Another  Revolt — Trade  with  the  Indians 
— Arrival  of  Newport — Nelson’s  Escape  from  Shipwreck 
— Envy  and  Improvidence  of  Newport  and  his  Company 
— Presents  to  Powhatan  : his  Cunning  Device  for  Trad- 


CONTENTS.  9 

PAGE 

ing:  Circumvented  by  Smith’s  Blue  Beads — Successful 
Traffic  with  Opechancanough — Destructive  Conflagra- 
tion at  Jamestown — Mismanagement  of  Supplies — “ Sect 

1 of  Gold-finders” — Wingfield  and  Archer  sent  home  to 
j England — Arrival  of  Captain  Nelson — Insolence  of  the 

Indians  punished, 89 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Departure  of  Nelson — Exploration  of  Chesapeake  Bay — 

Visits  to  Various  Indian  Tribes — Discontent  among  the 
Crew — Discovery  of  the  Potomac — Severe  Accident  to 
Smith  from  a Stingray — Return  to  Jamestown — Rat- 
cliffe  deposed,  and  Smith  elected  President : He  appoints 
Scrivener  his  substitute — Another  Exploring  Expedi- 
tion — the  Massawomeks,  Tockwoghs,  Susquesahan- 
ocks,  Rappahanocks,  Maraughtacunds,  Mannahocks, 
and  other  Indian  Tribes — Numerous  Adventures  and 
Narrow  Escapes — Return  to  Jamestown, 100 

CHAPTER  X. 

Smith  consents  to  administer  the  Government — Arrival  j 

of  Newport  with  a Crown  and  other  Absurd  Gifts  for 
Powhatan — Smith  opposes  his  Course,  but  is  Over- 
ruled : Visits  Powhatan,  who  finally  submits  to  a Cor- 
onation— Newport’s  Unfortunate  Expedition  to  the 
Manakins — Novel  Remedy  for  Profanity— Smith’s  Suc- 
cess in  procuring  Corn  : Plot  to  Injure  him  Overthrown 
—Newport  and  his  Mariners  the  Source  of  much  Mis- 
chief and  Misrepresentation— Complaints  of  the  Council 
in  England— Smith’s  Rejoinder, 121 

CHAPTER  XI 

Famine-— Desperate  Efforts  to  procure  Supplies— First 
Marriage  in  America — House  for  Powhatan-— Smith  and 
others  embark  on  an  Adventurous  Expedition — Christ- 
mas spent  among  the  Indians— Arrival  at  Werowoco- 
moco— Interview  of  Smith  and  Powhatan-— Treachery 
of  the.  Germans — Crafty  Speech  of  Powhatan — Jeopardy 
of  Smith  and  his  Companions— Duplicity  of  the  Indians 


10 


CONTENTS. 


—Pocahontas  warns  Smith  of  his  Danger:  his  Vigil- 
ance : Departure— Arms  stolen  by  the  Germans  for  Pow- 
hatan—Arrival  of  Smith  at  Pamunkey— Deception  of 
Opechancanough— Smith  challenges  him  to  Single 
Combat— -Seizes  him,  and  obtains  his  Demands— -Seri- 
ous Accident  at  Jamestown— Smith’s  Return— -Disor- 
derly State  of  Affairs — German  Deserters  detected — 
Encounter  of  Smith  and  Paspahey : Escape  of  the  latter, 
and  Subsequent  Meeting — Indian  Oratory — Compact 
for  Peace, • 136 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Effects  of  Smith’s  Intrepidity — Benefits  of  some  Pre- 
tended Miracles — Encouraging  Spirit  of  the  Settlers — 
Ravages  of  the  Rats — New  Quarters  necessary  for  Sub- 
sistence— Evils  of  Insolence  again  Prevalent — Deserters 
returned  by  the  Indians — Expedition  to  the  Mangoags  : 
their  Friendship — Villany  of  Volday — Indignation  of 
the  People — Course  of  Powhatan — Arrival  of  Argali,  158 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  old  Charter  and  Officers  superseded — Extensive 
Fleet,  with  Reinforcements — Shipwreck  of  the  new 
Governors — Arrival  of  the  Fleet — Surprise  of  Smith — 
Troublesome  Factions — Character  of  the  new  Recruits — 
Fate  of  the  Germans  and  Volday — Vigorous  Measures 
of  Smith — Imprisonment  of  the  Factious  Leaders — 
Attempts  at  New  Settlements — More  Difficulties  with 
the  Indians — Purchase  of  Powhatan — Mutiny  against 
Smith : his  Escape — Complaints  of  the  Indians : their 
Revenge — Nonsuch  founded  and  abandoned — Severe 
Accident  to  Smith : his  Return  to  England  necessary : 
Peculiarities  of  his  Situation : his  Character,  . . . 167 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

The  Sea-Venture  and  the  Governors — Isle  of  Devils : its 
Animal  and  Vegetable  Productions — The  Shipwrecked 
Party  leave  for  Vrginia  : Desperate  Condition  of  Affairs 
in  that  Region:  “ The  Starving  Time  ” — Resolution  to 
abandon  the  Settlement : Happily  Frustrated  by  the  ar- 


CONTENTS. 


11 


rival  of  Lord  Delaware — Important  Assistance  from 
England— Projected  New  Settlements—Pocahontas  made 
a Prisoner — Powhatan  apprised  of  her  Situation  : His 
Answer — Skirmishes  with  the  Indians— Two  Brothers 
of  Pocahontas — Partial  Arrangement  of  Difficulties— 
Marriage  of  Pocahontas  and  Rolfe  : Embarkation  for 
England : Arrival, 182 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Smith  engages  in  New  Explorations  on  the  Northern 
American  Coasts  : Success  and  Return- — His  Agreement 
with  Prince  Charles  in  regard  to  the  Names  of  several 
Important  Places : Villany  of  his  Associate,  Captain 
Hunt — High  Anticipations  of  Smith — Promise  of  the 
Plymouth  Company : Engagement  with  them — Better 
Offers  declined — Expedition  under  Cooper  sails  from 
London— Sir  Ferdinand  Gorges — Cunning  Device  of  a 
Kidnapped  Indian  to  get  Home — Abortive  Attempts  to 
unite  the  London  and  Plymouth  Companies — Failure  of 
the  latter  to  redeem  their  promises — Two  Vessels  at  last 
provided,  in  which  Smith  sails  : His  Return,  disabled  by 
a Storm:  Sails  again  in  another  Craft — Encounter  with 
Pirates — Captured  by  a French  Cruiser  : His  Sailors  es- 
cape with  the  English  Vessel : Smith  detained  a Prisoner  : 
Occasional  Employment  in  Fighting  and  Writing — Cap- 
tain Barra,  “an  English  Pirat” — A Rich  Prize — Liberal 
Promises  to  Smith,  who  is  taken  to  France — False  Accu- 
sations— Fortunate  Escape — New  Trials  and  Difficulties 
— Return  to  England,  . . . , 195 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Smith  and  his  Crew  of  Deserters  : He  engages  again  with 
the  Plymoutheans  : Publishes  his  Book  on  New  Eng- 
land : is  created  Admiral  of  that  Country— Arrival  of 
Pocahontas — Interview  with  Smith — Distinction  between 
the  Laws  of  Nature  and  the  Laws  of  State  Etiquette — 
Smith’s  Letter  to  the  Queen  in  behalf  of  Pocahontas, 
who  is  favorably  received  at  Court  and  elsewhere — Amus- 
ing Incidents  of  Smith’s  first  Interview  with  Pocahontas 
— Hopeless  Mission  of  Uttamatomakkin  to  Number  the 
People:  His  Correct  Idea  of  King  James — Change  in 


12 


CONTENTS. 


the  Affairs  of  Virginia — Rolfe  appointed  to  Office — Un- 
expected Death  of  Pocahontas  : Her  Little  Son  adopted 
by  his  Uncle:  Is  educated  in  London,  and  returns  to 
Virginia:  His  Numerous  Descendants — Character  of 
Pocahontas, 212 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Smith’s  Efforts  to  coloniee  New  England  and  establish 
Fisheries — Causes  of  Holland’s  Prosperity — Resources 
of  New  England — Appeal  to  the  Spirit  of  Independence 
— Death  of  Powhatan:  His  Successor — Treachery  of 
Opechancanough — Jack  of  the  Feather — Horrible  Mas- 
sacre of  the  Settlers  : its  Effect  upon  the  Colony — Ret- 
ribution— Offer  of  Smith — Slanders  of  Argali  and  his 
Associates  against  the  Colony — Favorable  Testimony  of 
Smith:  Recapitulation  of  his  Virginian  Adventures: 

His  Answers  to  Interrogatories  propounded  by  Commis- 
sioners to  investigate  the  Affairs  of  the  Colony — Abro- 
gation of  the  Charter  of  the  Virginia  Company — Smith 
engages  in  the  publication  of  several  Valuable  Works  : 

His  Death  : Prominent  Characteristics — Specimens  of 
Poetical  Laudation  from  his  Friends, 229 


THE  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES 


OF 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  SxMITH. 


CHAPTER  I. 

His  Birth  and  Parentage — Early  Propensity  for  Adventure — 
Death  of  his  Father — Apprenticed  to  a Merchant — Clandes- 
tine Trip  to  France — War  in  the  Netherlands — Visits  Scot- 
land— Turns  Hermit — Tries  his  Fortune  again  in  France — 
Is  thrown  into  the  Sea — His  Rescue — Desperate  Encounter 
and  Victory — Immense  Booty. 


According  to  Smith’s  own  account  of  himself 
— an  account  from  which  a large  portion  of  this 
work  is  compiled — he  was  descended  from  a 
respectable  family  in  Willoughby,  Lincolnshire, 
England,  where  he  was  born  in  1579.  He  was 
early  imbued  with  a spirit  of  adventure,  from  the 
full  exercise  of  which  he  was  partially  restrained 
by  parental  authority.  Even  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen, he  entertained  an  unconquerable  desire  for 
seeing  the  world,  and  secretly  sold  his  books  and 
satchell  in  order  to  raise  money  for  accomplishing 
his  purpose,  when  the  death  of  his  father  inter- 
rupted his  project.  The  guardians  of  his  estate, 
seeming  to  think  more  of  it  than  him , would  not 
furnish  him  any  “means  to  get  beyond  sea,”  and 

I 2 


14  LIFE  AND  ADVENTUKE3  OF 

when  about  fifteen  years  old  he  was  apprenticed 
to  the  mercantile  business  at  Lynn — his  master 
being  “the  greatest  merchant  of  all  those  parts.” 
About  this  time  he  was  on  such  terms  with  a son 
of  Lord  Willoughby,  that  he  left  the  service  in 
which  he  was  engaged,  and  accompanied  him  to 
France — thus  gratifying  (what  had  been  so  far 
checked)  his  yearnings  for  “going  beyond  sea.” 
He  did  not  long  remain  with  the  companion  of 
his  voyage,  but  visited  several  towns  in  France; 
and  at  Paris  became  acquainted  with  “one  Mas- 
ter David  Hume,”  who  not  only  administered  to 
his  pecuniary  necessities,  but  gave  him  “letters 
to  his  friends  in  Scotland  to  prefer  him  to  King 
James.”  From  Paris  he  proceeded  to  the  Neth- 
erlands, to  assist  that  injured  country  in  resisting 
Spanish  tyranny ; and  served  some  three  or  four 
years  under  Captain  Duxbury — an  Englishman, 
commanding  in  the  service  of  Prince  Maurice. 
He  then  concluded  to  make  a journey  to  Scot- 
land, but  was  shipwrecked  at  Holy  Isle,  and 
suffered  much  from  sickness.  After  his  re- 
covery, he  reached  Scotland,  and  delivered  his 
letters,  which  secured  him  a very  favorable  recep- 
tion among  the  writer’s  friends;  but  finding  no 
chance  of  preferment  at  the  Scottish  court,  he 
indulged  himself  in  a visit  to  Willoughby.  Not 
meeting  with  any  special  attractions  in  the  social 
circles  of  his  native  town,  he  resolved  to  become 
a recluse,  after  a fashion  peculiar  to  himself;  and 
for  this  purpose  he  “retired  into  a little  wooddie 
pasture,  a good  way  from  any  town,  invironed 
with  many  hundred  acres  of  other  woods.  Here 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  15 

by  a faire  brook  he  built  a pavillion  of  boughes, 
where  only  in  his  cloaths  he  lay.  His  studie  was 
Machiavills  Art  of  Warre,  and  Marcus  Aure- 
lius; his  exercise  a good  horse,  with  his  lance 
and  ring;  his  food  was  thought  to  be  more  of 
venison  than  anything  else.”  Unlike  most  of 
« the  hermit  class,  he  kept  a man,  and  we  are  told 
that  “what  he  wanted,  his  man  brought  him.” 
While  in  this  retreat,  he  became  acquainted  with 
“an  excellent  horseman  and  a noble  Italian  gen- 
tleman,” named  Polaloga,  who  was  riding-master 
to  the  Earl  of  Lincoln,  and  whose  “good  dis- 
course and  exercise  of  riding  drew  him  to  stay 
with  him  at  Tattersall”  for  a brief  period. — 
“Long  these  pleasures  could  not  content  him,” 
and  he  determined  upon  again  returning  to  the 
Low  Countries ; regarding  himself  as  materially 
improved  with  “such  rudiments  of  warre  as  his 
tender  years  in  those  martial  schooles  could  at- 
tain unto.”  He  was  also  “desirous  to  see  more 
of  the  world,  and  trie  his  fortune  against  the 
Turkes,  both  lamenting  and  repenting  to  have 
seene  so  many  Christians  slaughter  one  another.” 
On  the  eve  of  his  embarkation  for  France, 
Smith  fell  in  with  “four  French  gallants” — gen- 
tlemen living  by  their  wits — who  were  his  com- 
panions on  the  voyage,  and  who  contrived  to 
rob  him  after  his  arrival  of  all  his  money  and 
clothing — leaving  him  so  destitute  that  he  was 
“forced  to  sell  his  cloake  to  pay  for  his  passage.” 
One  of  them,  assuming  the  title  of  Lord  Depreau, 
palmed  himself  off  for  an  influential  personage, 
and  promised  our  hero  all  sorts  of  countenance 


"sri— — 


16 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


and  assistance  in  his  chivalric  enterprise,  while 
the  other  three  played  their  parts  as  his  lordship’s 
, ‘•'gentlemen/’  When  about  landing  at  Picardy, 
his  new  acquaintance  “plotted  with  the  master 
of  the  ship  to  set  his  (Smith’s)  and  their  own 
trunckes  a shore,  leaving  Smith  aboard  till  the 
: boat  could  returne,  which  was  the  next  day  after, 

towards  evening.  The  reason  hee  alleaged  was, 
the  sea  went  so  high  hee  could  come  no  sooner, 
and  that  his  lord  was  gone  to  Amiens,  where 
they  would  stay  his  coming;  which  treacherous 
villany,  when  divers  other  souldiers  and  pas- 
sengers understood,  they  had  like  to  have  slaine 
the  master,  and,  had  they  knowne  how,  would 
have  runne  away  with  the  ship.” 

He  was  soon  undeceived  as  to  the  character 
of  his  late  companions  by  a fellow-passenger, 

| named  Curzianvere,  who,  “compassionating  his 
I injury,  assured  him.  this  great  Lord  Depreau 
| was  only  the  sonne  of  a lawyer  of  Mortaigne  in 
j base  Britany,  and  his  attendants — Cursell,  La 
Nelie,  and  Monferrat — three  young  citizens,  as 
arrant  cheats  as  himselfe.”  His  newly-found 
friend  proved  a friend  indeed.  He  not  only 
“supplied  his  wants,”  but  also  “brought  him  to 
Mortaigne,  where  he  found  Depreau  and  the  rest, 
but  to  small  purpose;  for  Mr.  Curzianvere  was 
a banished  man,  and  durst  not  be  seene  but  to 
his  friends;  yet  the  bruit  of  their  cosenage  oc- 
casioned the  Lady  Collumber  and  divers  other 
honorable  persons  to  supply  his  wants,  and  with 
them  to  recreate  himself  so  long  as  he  would.” 
Smith  had  no  taste  for  the  life  of  a Sponge; 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  17 

“such  pleasant  pleasures  suiting  little  with  his 
poore  estate,”  he  withdrew  from  his  hospitable 
friends,  with  the  determination  of  seeking  better 
means  of  accomplishing  the  purpose  for  which  he 
left  England — that  of  fighting  the  Turks.  “In 
wandering  from  port  to  port  to  finde  some  man 
of  warre,  he  spent  that  he  had,  and  in  a Forest, 
neere  dead  with  griefe  and  cold,  a rich  Farmer 
found  him  by  a faire  Fountaine  under  a tree. 
This  kinde  Pesant  releeved  him  againe,  to  his 
content  to  follow  his  intent.  Not  long  after,  as 
he  passed  through  a great  grove  of  trees,  it  was 
his  chance  to  meet  Cursell,  more  miserable  than 
himselfe.  His  piercing  injuries  had  so  small 
patience,  as  without  any  word  they  both  drew, 
and  in  a short  time  Cursell  fell  to  the  ground, 
where  from  an  old  ruinated  Tower  the  inhab- 
itants seeing  them,  were  satisfied,  when  they 
heard  Cursell  confesse  what  had  formerly 
passed.” 

According  to  the  confession  of  Cursell,  his 
associates  did  not  recognise  the  principle  of 
“honor  among  thieves;’’  for,  in  dividing  what 
they  had  stolen  from  Smith,  “they  fell  by  the 
ears  amongst  themselves,”  and  he  received  little 
more  than  some  unwelcome  blows  for  his  share. 
After  exchanging  forgiveness  with  his  wounded 
adversary,  and  leaving  him  to  the  care  of  the 
peasantry  who  had  flocked  around,  Smith  direct- 
ed his  course  to  the  Earl  of  Ployer,  whom  he  had 
formerly  known  during  the  war  in  France,  and 
by  whom  he  was  kindly  received  and  entertained. 
The  earl  was  at  some  pains  to  visit  with  his 
2* 


18  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

guest  all  the  prominent  objects  of  interest  in 
his  neighborhood;  and  on  his  departure,  after 
tarrying  a reasonable  time,  “he  was  better  refur- 
nished than  ever/’ 

From  this  time  Smith  freely  indulged  his  ruling 
propensity — travelling  leisurely  through  various 
towns,  inspecting  whatever  was  curious  or  nota- 
ble, until  he  reached  Marseilles;  where,  “imbark- 
ing  himself  for  Italy,  the  ship  was  enforced  to 
Tolonne.”  We  are  led  to  infer  that  the  vessel 
was  refitted,  and  put  to  sea  again  with  better 
prospects.  But  the  war  of  elements  was  not 
yet  ended:  the  “ill  weather  so  grew  upon  them, 
they  anchored  close  aboard  the  shore,  under  the 
little  Isle  of  St.  Mary,”  off  Nice.  Here  his 
fellow-passengers  (whom  he  designates  as  “in- 
humane Provincialls”  and  “a  rable  of  Pilgrimes 
of  divers  nations  going  to  Rome”)  suddenly  came 
to  the  very  sage  conclusion  that  he  was  a sort  of 
Jonah  among  them.  For  lack  of  better  pastime, 
they  fell  to  “hourely  cursing  him,  not  only  for  a 
Hugonoit,  but  his  Nation  they  swore  were  all 
Pyrats,  and  so  vildly  railed  on  his  dread  sover- 
aigne,  Queene  Elizabeth,  and  that  they  never 
should  have  faire  wTeather  so  long  as  hee  was 
aboard  them  ; their  disputations  grew  to  that  pas- 
sion that  they  threw  him  oyer-board;  yet  God 
brought  him  to  that  little  Isle,  where  was  no  in- 
habitants but  a few  kine  and  goats.”  On  the 
next  morning  he  was  taken  on  board  another 
vessel,  which  had  “put  in  by  the  storm,”  and 
was  so  well  “regarded  and  entertained”  by  the 
captain,  that  “he  was  well  contented  to  try  the 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  19 

rest  of  his  fortune  with  them/’  This  vessel,  it 
appears,  was  bound  for  Alexandria,  whither  she 
had  a prosperous  voyage,  and  delivered  her  cargo. 
Neither  the  vessel  nor  Smith  seem  to  have  had 
any  particular  destination  after  this:*  for  “they 
went  to  Scandaroone,  rather  to  view  what  ships 
was  in  the  roade  than. anything  else,”  and  thence 
proceeded  (apparently  on  a cruise)  to  various 
islands  in  the  Mediterranean.  While  laying  to 
between  Corfu  and  the  Cape  of  Otranto,  they 
met  with  a Venetian  argosy,  which  the  captain 
was  desirous  of  speaking;  and  on  approaching 
for  that  object,  he  received  “such  an  untoward 
answer  as  slew  them  a man.”  It  is  evident  from 
what  followed  that  this  unfriendly  answer  was 
not  entirely  unexpected ; but  as  we  have  no  idea 
of  rivalling  the  talents  of  Cooper  or  Maryatt  in 
the  description  of  a sea-fight,  Smith  shall  be 
permitted  to  describe  the  succeeding  scenes  in 
his  own  expressive  language: 

As  a rejoinder  to  the  single  gun  of  the  argosy, 
“the  Britaine  presently  gave  them  the  broad- 
side, then  his  Sterne,  and  his  other  broad-side 
also,  and  continued  the  chase,  with  his  chase 
peeces,  till  he  gave  them  so  many  broad-sides 
one  after  another,  that  the  Argosies  sayles  and 
tackling  was  so  torne,  she  stood  to  her  defence, 
and  made  shot  for  shot;  twice  in  one  houre  and 

* Both  the  character  of  the  vessel  and  the  capacity  in 
which  Smith  was  acting  are  alike  left  to  conjecture,  and 
we  are  warranted  in  the  conclusion  that  the  one  was  some- 
thing more  than  a merchantman,  and  the  other  something 
more  than  a passenger. 


20  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

a halfe  the  Britaine  boarded  her,  yet  they  cleared 
themselves,  but  clapping  her  aboard  againe,  the 
Argosie  fired  him,  which  with  much  danger  to 
them  both  was  presently  quenched.  This  rather 
augmented  the  Britaines  rage,  than  abated  his 
courage;  for  having  reaccommodated  himselfe 
againe,  shot  her  so  oft  betweene  wind  and  water, 
she  was  readie  to  sinke,  then  they  yeelded ; the 
Britaine  lost  fifteene  men,  she  twentie,  besides 
divers  were  hurt,  the  rest  went  to  worke  on  all 
hands;  some  to  stop  the  leakes,  others  to  guard 
the  prisoners  that  were  chained,  the  rest  to  rifle 
her.  The  Silkes,  Velvets,  Cloth  of  Gold,  and 
Tissue,  Py asters,  Chicqueenes,  and  Sultanies, 
(which  is  gold  and  silver,)  they  unloaded  in  foure 
and  twentie  houres,  was  wonderfull,  whereof 
having  sufficient,  and  tired  with  toile,  they  cast 
her  off  with  her  company,  with  as  much  good 
merchandize  as  would  have  fraughted  such  an- 
other Britaine,  that  was  but  two  hundred  tunnes, 
shee  foure  or  five  hundred.” 

To  repair  the  great  damage  sustained  in  this 
desperate  engagement,  was  of  course  a very 
desirable  matter,  and  the  victor  accordingly 
stood  for  some  friendly  port  where  this  business 
could  be  effected.  Smith  was  set  on  shore  in 
Piedmont,  with  “five  hundred  chicqueenes,  and 
a little  box  God  sent  him  worth  neere  as  much 
more” — probably  his  share  of  the  spoils  of  the 
argosy. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


21 


CHAPTER  II. 

Smith  travels  in  Italy  and  the  South  of  Europe — Enters 
the  Emperor’s  Service — Ingenious  Telegraph — Success  at 
Olympach — Smith’s  Promotion — Siege  of  Alba  Regalis — 
Efficiency  of  the  Fiery  Dragons — the  Christians  Victori- 
ous-Battle of  Girke— Death  of  Duke  Mercury. 

It  is  not  likely  that  our  adventurer  ever  be- 
fore found  himself  in  so  good  a condition  to 
gratify  his  propensity  for  seeing  the  world  as  at 
this  time.  “Being  glad  to  have  such  opportuni- 
ty and  meanes  to  better  his  experience  by  the 
view  of  Italy,”  he  embarked  for  Leghorn,  and 
thence  passed  through  all  the  principal  cities, 
carefully  noting  whatever  be  considered  remark- 
able or  interesting.  During  his  travels  he  again 
met  with  his  early  friends,  “Lord  Willoughby 
and  his  brother,  cruelly  wounded  in  a desperate 
fray,  yet  to  their  exceeding  great  honor.”  What 
was  the  cause  of  this  “desperate  fray” — whether 
they  had  become  “red  republican  revolutionists,” 
or  had  been  set  upon  by  Italian  bandits,  or  were 
merely  carrying  out  the  invaluable  privileges  of 
independent  Englishmen  in  “kicking  up  a row” 
— is  left  entirely  to  the  sympathetic  imagination. 
Smith  did  not  choose  to  throw  any  light  upon 
the  subject,  nor  can  we  his  humble  followers; 
and  as  it  is  probable  that  no  other  historian  has 
recorded  the  occurrence,  it  must  for  ever  remain 
among  those  mysteries  which  are  said  to  be 
“buried  in  the  womb  of  time.” 

At  Rome  “it  was  his  chance  to  see  Pope 


22  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

Clement  the  eight,  with  as  many  Cardinalls, 
creepe  up  the  holy  Stayres,  which  they  say  are 
those  our  Saviour  Christ  went  up  to  Pontius 
Pilate,  where  bloud  falling  from  his  head,  being 
pricked  with  his  crowne  of  thornes,  the  drops 
are  marked  with  nailes  of  steele;  upon  them 
none  dare  goe  but  in  that  manner,  saying  so 
many  Ave-Maries  and  Pater-Nosters,  as  is  their 
devotion,  and  to  kisse  the  nailes  of  steele  : But 

on  each  side  is  a paire  of  such  like  staires,  up 
which  you  may  goe,  stand,  or  kneele,  but  divided 
from  the  holy  Staires  by  two  walls:  right  against 
them  is  a Chapell,  where  hangs  a great  silver 
Lampe, which  burneth  continually,  yet  they  say 
the  oyle  neither  increaseth  nor  diminisheth.” 
When  his  curiosity  had  been  pretty  well  satis- 
fied with  every  thing  in  and  about  Italy,  he  took 
a turn  through  Albania,  Dalmatia,  and  Sclavo- 
nia,  and  finally  reached  Gratz  in  Styria,  where 
the  Archduke  Ferdinand  of  Austria,  afterwards 
Emperor  of  Germany,  was  then  residing.  Here 
he  met  with  an  Englishman  and  an  Irish  Jesuit, 
who  made  him  acquainted  with  “many  brave 
gentlemen  of  good  qualitie,  especially  with  the 
Lord  Ebersbaught,”  to  whom  he  seems  to  have 
communicated  certain  practical  tactics  and 
expedients,  which  were  of  much  subsequent 
advantage.  He  at  once  so  far  secured  the 
favorable  regards  of  this  nobleman,  that  he  re- 
commended him  to  Baron  Kisell,  general  of  the 
artillery,  and  he  in  turn  presented  him  to  “a 
worthy  Colonel,  the  Earle  of  Meldritch,”  into 
whose  regiment  he  immediately  entered. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  23 

It  will  readily  be  perceived  that  our  hero  was 
now  in  a situation  to  gratify  his  longing  for  fight- 
ing the  Turks  to  its  fullest  extent.  He  entered 
on  active  service  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year 
1601,  at  which  time  the  Turks,  with  an  army  of 
twenty  thousand  men,  wrere  so  closely  besieging 
the  town  of  Olympach  as  to  cut  off  “all  intel- 
ligence and  hope  of  succour.”  Lord  Ebers- 
baught  was  in  command  of  the  town,  and  Smith 
informed  Baron  Kisell  that  he  had  “taught  his 
worthy  friend  such  a Rule,  that  he  would  under- 
take to  make  him  know  any  thing  he  intended, 
and  have  his  answer,  would  they  but  bring  him 
to  some  place  where  he  might  make  the  flame 
of  a torch  seene  to  the  towrn.”  The  baron  was, 
of  course,  all  anxiety  to  learn  how  this  important 
object  was  to  be  accomplished,  and  Smith  ex- 
plained it  so  comprehensibly,  that  he  was  forth- 
with furnished  with  the  necessary  implements 
for  putting  his  design  into  execution.  Accom- 
panied by  several  guides,  after  dark,  he  repaired 
“to  a mountaine,  where  he  showed  three  torches, 
equi-distant  from  each  other,  which  plainly  ap- 
pearing to  the  towne,  the  governour  presently 
apprehended,  and  answered  again  with  three 
other  fires  in  like  manner — each  knowing  the 
other’s  being  and  intent.  Smith,  though  distant 
seven  miles,  signified  to  him  these  words:  ‘ On 

Thursday  at  night  I mill  charge  on  the  East: 
at  the  Alarum , sally  you.’”  Ebersbaught  an- 
swered, after  the  same  manner,  “/  will;”  and 
thus  terminated  this  first  essay  at  telegraphic  cor- 
respondence in  the  Imperial  army.  In  order  to 


24  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

afford  the  reader  an  opportunity  of  contrasting 
his  process  of  communication  with  that  pursued 
at  the  present  day,  the  following  explanation  is 
given  in  his  own  words : 

“First  he  writ  his  message  as  briefe  as  could 
be;  then  divided  the  Alphabet  in  two  parts  thus: 

abcdefghi  kl 
1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 1 1 1 

MNOP  Q,  R S TVWXYZ 
2222222222222 

“The  first  part  from  A to  L is  signified  by 
shewing  and  hiding  one  light,  so  oft  as  there  is 
letters  from  A to  that  letter  you  meane;  the 
other  part  from  M to  Z is  mentioned  by  two 
lights  in  like  manner.  The  end  of  a word  is 
signified  by  shewing  of  three  lights,  ever  staying 
your  light  at  that  letter  you  meane,  till  the  other 
may  write  it  in  a paper,  and  answer  by  his  sig- 
nall,  which  is  one  light,  it  is  done,  beginning  to 
count  the  letters  by  the  lights,  every  time,  from 
A to  M ; by  this  means  also  the  other  returned 
his  answer,  whereby  each  did  understand  other/’ 
This  telegraphic  communication  was  not  the 
only  good  service  which  Smith  rendered.  Kisell 
was  wavering  as  to  the  propriety  of  making  the 
projected  attack,  particularly  as  the  Turkish 
forces  more  than  doubled  his  own;  but  an  inge- 
nious piece  of  pyrotechny  suggested  by  Smith 
overcame  his  irresolution.  It  had  been  dis- 
covered by  the  guides  that  the  Turks  were  so 
divided  in  two  parts,  by  the  river,  they  could  not 
readily  second  each  other,  and  it  was  important 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


25 


to  devise  some  means  of  distracting  the  attention 
of  one  portion  by  a false  alarm,  while  the  impe- 
rialists fell  suddenly  and  furiously  upon  the  other. 
Smith’s  plan  was  to  prepare  “two  or  three  thou- 
sand pieces  of  match,  fastened  to  divers  small 
lines  of  a hundred  fathome  in  length,  being 
armed  with  powder,”  and  so  arranged  that  they 
“might  all  be  fired  and  stretched,  at  an  instant 
before  the  alarum,  upon  the  plaine  of  Hysnaburg, 
supported  by  two  staves  at  each  line’s  end,  and 
in  that  maner  they  would  seem  like  so  many 
musketteers.”  The  fullest  success  attended  this 
stratagem.  One  portion  of  the  Turks  “prepared 
to  encounter  these  false  fires,  thinking  there  had 
been  some  great  armie,”  while  Kisell  with  his  - 
ten  thousand  rushed  simultaneously  upon  the 
other,  “ who  ranne  up  and  dowrne  as  men  amazed. 

It  was  not  long  ere  Ebersbaught  [sallying  from 
the  town]  was  pell-mell  with  them  in  their 
trenches;  in  which  distracted  confusion  a third 
part  of  the  Turkes  besieging  that  side  towards 
Knousbrack  were  slaine ; many  of  the  rest  were 
drowned,  but  all  fled.”  Kisell  succeeded  in  re- 
inforcing the  town  with  two  thousand  additional 
troops,  and  retired  with  small  loss,  while  “the 
garrison  was  releeved  with  that  they  found  in 
the  Turkes  quarters.”  The  enemy  were  so  dis- 
heartened by  the  issue  of  this  conflict,  that  they 
abandoned  the  siege ; and  Kisell,  having  achieved 
his  object,  returned  to  head-quarters,  where  he 
was  received  with  much  honor.  Smith’s  inge- 
nuity and  valor  were  properly  estimated  ; for  we 
are  told  they  “occasioned  him  a good  reward, 

3 


26  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

and  preferment  to  be  captaine  of  two  hundred 
and  fiftie  horse-men,  under  the  conduct  of  Colo- 
nell  Yoldo,  Earle  of  Meldritch.” 

For  some  time  after  this,  so  little  was  done  in 
the  way  of  fighting  by  either  of  the  belligerents, 
that  “a  generall  rumour  of  a generall  peace  spred 
itselfe  over  all  the  face  of  those  tormented  coun- 
tries;” but  notwithstanding  this  seeming  quiet, 
the  Turks  were  actively  engaged  in  raising  all 
the  forces  they  could  muster  for  the  campaign 
of  1601,  and  the  Emperor  was  equally  busy  in 
making  extensive  preparations  in  his  own  behalf. 
Indeed,  the  latter  must  have  been  “up  to  his  eyes 
in  business,”  as  the  saying  is — having  no  less 
than  “ three  strings  to  his  bow.”  We  are  in- 
formed that,  “by  the  assistance  of  the  Christian 
princes,”  he  had  “provided  three  armies:  the 
first — commanded  nominally  by  the  Archduke 
Mathias,  but  actually  by  Duke  Mercury — was 
intended  “ to  defend  Low  Hungary ;”  the  second, 
under  the  Archduke  Ferdinand  of  Styria,  “to 
regaine  Caniza;”  and  the  third,  under  “Gonzago, 
governor  of  High  Hungary,”  to  reinforce  Geor- 
gio  Busca,  and  enable  him  to  “make  an  absolute 
conquest  of  Transylvania.” 

The  first  army,  in  which  Count  Meldritch  and 
Smith  were  enlisted,  undertook  the  siege  and 
capture  of  Alba  Regalis,  “a  place  so  strong  by 
art  and  nature,  that  it  was  thought  impregnable.” 
Here  again  were  the  acquirements  of  our  hero 
in  pyrotechny  and  engineering  brought  into  full 
requisition,  and  they  contributed  in  no  small 
degree  to  the  successful  issue  of  the  enterprise. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  27 

Meld ritch  had  learned  from  some  Christians, 
who  managed  to  escape  from  the  town,  to  what 
quarters  the  Turks  mostly  resorted  whenever 
an  alarm  was  sounded,  and  he  concerted  with 
Smith  to  try  what  effect  his  “fiery  dragons 
would  produce  among  them.  “These  he  fitly 
placed  in  slings,  graduated  so  neere  as  they  could 
to  the  places  of  these  Assemblies.  At  midnight, 
upon  the  Alarum,  it  was  a fearfull  sight  to  see 
the  short  flaming  course  of  their  flight  in  the 
aire;  but  presently  after  their  fall,  the  lamenta- 
ble noise  of  the  miserable  slaughtered  Turkes 
was  most  wonderfull  to  hear/'  But  slaughter 
alone  was  not  their  object : they  also  occasionally 
fired  the  suburbs  in  two  or  three  places  at  the 
same  time  “which  so  troubled  the  Turks  to 
quench,  that  had  there  been  any  means  to  have 
assaulted  them,  they  could  have  hardly  resisted” 

* At  the  risk  of  being  regarded  as  altogether  “behind 
time”  in  this  progressi\e  age,  we  cannot  resist  the  avowal 
of  our  belief  that  some  few  individuals  entertain  a lauda- 
ble curiosity  to  become  acquainted  with  the  form  and  fash- 
ion of  these  destructive  missiles;  and  as  laudable  curiosity 
should  never  be  baulked,  we  herewith  append  a verbatim 
description,  from  the  hand  of  the  inventor  himself,  which 
may  be  of  especial  interest  to  posterity, if  to  nobody  else: 
“Having  prepared  fortie  or  fiftie  round-bellied  earthen  pots, 
and  filled  them  with  hand  gunpowder,  then  covered  them 
with  Pitch,  mingled  with  Brimstone  and  Turpentine;  and 
quartering  as  many  Musket-bullets,  that  hung  together  but 
only  at  the  center  of  the  division,  stucke  them  round  in 
the  mixture  about  the  pots,  and  covered  them  againe  with 
the  same  mixture,  over  that  a strong  Sear-cloth,  then  over 
all  a goode  thicknesse  of  Towze-match  well  tempered  with 
oyle  of  Lin-seed,  Campheer,  and  powder  of  Brimstone.” 


28  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

the  combined  action  of  the  fire  and  the  soldiers. 
A concerted  manoeuvre,  calculated  to  take  them 
by  surprise  in  several  quarters,  was  finally  ex- 
ecuted with  the  most  complete  success,  although 
the  Turks  defended  their  positions,  foot  by  foot, 
in  a manner  which  excited  the  admiration  even 
of  the  victors.  Almost  simultaneously,  the  out- 
posts or  suburbs  were  gained  by  the  Christians, 
and  the  captured  ordnance  turned  upon  the  city, 
into  which  the  Turks  retreated  for  a last  des- 
perate struggle.  Here,  too,  they  were  soon 
overpowered,  “with  such  a mercilesse  execution 
as  was  most  pitifull  to  behold/’  The  Bashaw, 
notwithstanding  the  utter  hopelessness  of  his 
situation,  “drew  together  a partie  of  five  hun- 
dred before  his  own  Pallace,  where  he  intended 
to  die,”  but  after  the  most  of  his  men  were  slain 
before  him,  Meldritch  “tooke  him  prisoner  with 
his  own  hands;  and,  at  the  hazard  of  himself, 
saved  him  from  the  fury  of  other  troops,”  who 
demolished  his  palace,  and  “ would  have  rent  him 
in  peeces,  had  he  not  been  thus  preserved.” 

The  first  care  of  the  conquerors  was  to  repair 
the  walls  and  fortifications  which  they  had  re- 
cently been  at  such  pains  to  destroy;  and  this 
being  thoroughly  accomplished,  they  then  in- 
dulged themselves  in  suitable  rejoicings.  The 
fact  that  this  city,  which  had  been  in  possession 
of  the  Turks  for  nearly  sixty  years,  was  once 
more  under  the  banner  of  the  Cross,  was  deemed 
a matter  of  gratulation  to  all  Christendom. 

But  they  were  not  long  to  enjoy  the  undis- 
turbed possession  of  their  prize.  Sultan  Mahomet 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  29 

* 

was  none  of  your  “I  can’t ” sort  of  individuals. 
While  the  Christians  were  besieging  Regalis, 
he  was  by  no  means  inactive.  He  had  raised 
an  army  of  sixty  thousand  men  for  its  relief, 
but  they  were  not  put  in  motion  till  “a  day  after 
the  fair;”  yet  when  he  heard  that  the  city  had 
fallen,  he  was  hardly  disposed  to  regard  its  rescue 
as  problematical.  Three  Bashaws,  of  well-known 
valor  and  devotion — Hassan  Bashaw,  the  Ba- 
shaw of  Buda,  and  Bashaw  Amaroz — were  dis- 
patched with  the  new  army,  “to  see  if  it  were 
possible  to  regaine  it.”  Having  greater  confi- 
dence in  numbers  than  in  skill  and  discipline, 
the  Turks  set  forward  at  once,  not  allowing 
themselves  to  entertain  a doubt  of  accomplishing 
their  mission.  Duke  Mercury,  however,  (who 
by  some  means  was  kept  well  advised  of  the 
enemy’s  movements,)  knowing  that  the  new 
levies  must  lack  that  drilling  and  military  tact 
so  essential  to  efficient  action,  resolved  on  giving 
them  battle  with  only  one-third  their  number. 
This  resolution  taken,  he  left  a strong  garrison 
in  the  city,  and  “set  forward  to  meet  the  Turke 
in  the  plaines  of  Girke.”  Prominent  among  his 
chosen  followers  were  Meldritch  and  Smith, 
whose  presence  on  all  occasions  seems  to  have 
been  considered  indispensable  t®  successful  op- 
eration. The  “two  armies  encountered  as  they 
marched,”  engaging  in  “hot  and  bloudy  skir- 
mish” on  coming  up,  regiment  against  regiment, 
till  the  night  parted  them.  Here  Earle  Meldritch 
was  so  invironed  amongst  those  halfe  circuler 
Regiments  of  Turkes,  they  supposed  him  their 
3* 


30  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

prisoner,  and  his  Regiment  lost;  but  his  two 
most  couragious  friends,  Yahan  and  Culnits, 
made  such  a passage  amongst  them,  that  it  was 
a terror  to  see  how  horse  and  man  lay  sprawling 
and  tumbling,  some  one  way,  some  another  on 
the  ground.  The  Earle  there  at  that  time  made 
his  valour  shine  more  bright  than  his  armour, 
which  seemed  then  painted  with  Turkish  bloud: 
he  slew  the  brave  Zanzack  Bugola,  and  made 
his  passage  to  his  friends,  but  neere  halfe  his 
Regiment  was  slaine.  Captain  Smith  had  his 
horse  slaine  under  him,  and  himselfe  sore  wound- 
ed; but  he  was  not  long  unmounted,  for  there 
was  choice  enough  of  horses  that  wanted  mas- 
ters. The  Turke  thinking  the  victory  sure 
against  the  Duke,  whose  Armie,  by  the  Siege 
and  the  Garrison  he  had  left  behind  him,  was 
much  weakened,  would  not  be  content  with  one, 
but  he  would  have  all;  and  lest  the  Duke  should 
returne  to  Alba  Regalis,  he  sent  that  night 
twenty  thousand  to  besiege  the  Ci tie,  assuring 
them  he  would  keepe  the  Duke  or  any  other 
from  releeving  them.  Two  or  three  dayes  they 
lay  each  by  other,  entrenching  themselves;  the 
Turkes  daring  the  Duke  daily  to  a sett  battell, 
who  at  length  drew  out  his  Army,  led  by  the 
Rhine-Grave,  C.ulnits  and  Meldritch,  who  upon 
their  first  encounter,  charged  with  that  resolute 
and  valiant  courage,  as  disordered  not  only  the 
formost  squadrons  of  the  Turkes,  but  enforced 
all  the  whole  Armie  to  retire  to  the  Campe,  with 
the  losse  of  five  or  six  thousand,  with  the  Bashaw 
of  Buda,  and  foure  or  five  Zanzacks,  with  divers 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  31 

other  great  Commanders,  two  hundred  Prisoners, 
and  nine  peeces  of  Ordnance.  At  that  instant 
appeared,  as  it  were,  another  Armie  comming 
out  of  a valley  over  a plaine  hill,  that  caused 
the  Duke  at  that  time  to  be  contented,  and  to 
retire  to  his  Trenches;  which  gave  time  to  As- 
san  to  reorder  his  disordered  squadrons:  Here 
they  lay  nine  or  ten  dayes,  and  more  supplies 
repaired  to  them,  expecting  to  try  the  event  in 
a sett  battell ; but  the  souldiers  on  both  parties, 
by  reason  of  their  great  wants  and  approach  of 
winter,  grew  so  discontented,  that  they  were 
ready  of  themselves  to  breake  up  the  Leager; 
the  Bashaw  retiring  himselfe  to  Buda,  had  some 
of  the  Reare  Troopes  cut  off.  Amaroz  Bashaw 
hearing  of  this,  found  such  bad  welcome  at  Alba 
Regalis,  and  the  Towne  so  strongly  repaired, 
with  so  brave  a Garrison,  raised  his  siege,  and 
retired  to  Zigetum.” 

Thus,  it  will  be  seen,  by  tacit  consent,  both 
parties  agreed  to  “let  well  enough  alone” — at 
least,  in  that  quarter.  Duke  Mercury,  however, 
having  an  eye  to  other  “fields  of  high  emprise,” 
divided  his  army  into  three  parts:  sending  one 
division  of  seven  thousand,  under  the  Earl  of 
Rosworme,  to  relieve  Caniza;  another  of  six 
thousand,  under  the  Earl  of  Meldritch,  to  assist 
Busca  against  the  Transylvanians ; and  retaining 
the  third  to  garrison  “Strigonium  and  Komara.” 
On  returning  to  Vienna,  he  was  received  with 
great  honor  by  royalty,  nobility  and  commons: 
•*his  very  picture  they  esteemed  would  make 
them  fortunate,  which  thousands  kept  as  curi- 


32 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


ously  as  a precious  relique.”  After  indulging 
awhile  in  magnificent  festivities,  he  was  on  the 
point  of  returning  to  France,  “to  raise  new 
forces  against  the  next  yeare.”  A noble  escort 
accompanied  him  as  far  as  Nuremberg,  where 
he  was  u royally  feasted”  for  the  last  time.  “ The 
next  morning  he  was  found  dead,  (how  it  chanced 
is  not  knowne,)  and  his  brother-in-law  died  two 
days  after;  whose  hearts  with  much  sorrow 
were  carried  into  France.” 


CHAPTER  III. 

Smith  enlists  with  Meldritch  in  the  Service  of  Sig-ismund — 
Reg-all  Besieg-ed — Challeng-e  from  the  Turks — Smith  slays 
Three  in  Single  Combat — Both  Armies  finally  Encounter — 
the  Christians  victorious — Honors  and  Pension  to  Smith. 


In  the  last  chapter  we  have  seen  that  Count 
Meldritch  was  dispatched  to  aid  in  the  conquest 
of  Transylvania,  at  that  time  not  only  struggling 
to  maintain  an  independent  existence,  but  also 
engaged  in  a war  with  the  Turks.  The  Em- 
peror  of  Germany  was  making  vigorous  efforts 
to  subjugate  the  country,  and  place  it  on  a level 
with  his  other  provinces,  while  the  native  prince 
Sigismund  Bathor,  was  employing  every  avail- 
able means  to  preserve  his  hereditary  rights  for 
his  own  “use,  benefit  and  behoof.”  It  happened 
luckily  for  the  latter  that  Meldritch  was  a Tran- 
sylvanian by  birth;  and,  although  a soldier  of 
fortune,  he  seems  to  have  had  some  ‘‘compunc- 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


33 


tious  visitings”  as  to  the  propriety  of  assisting 
Busca  to  subject  his  native  land  to  the  emperor’s 
domination.  Other  reasons,  too,  no  doubt,  had 
their  influence  with  him : both  himself  and  fol- 
lowers may  have  seen  much  good  judgment  in 
exchanging  the  “hard  payes  and  travells”  of 
their  late  employer  for  “free  libertie  to  make 
bootie  upon  what  they  could  get  possession  of 
from  the  Turkes.”  By  whatever  motive  sway- 
ed, his  division  was  “easily  persuaded  to  follow 
him  whithersoever”  he  might  direct.  Thus 
situated,  it  is  not  wonderful  that  he  entertained 
and  finally  accepted  overtures  “to  assist  the 
Prince  against  the  Turke,  rather  than  Busca 
against  the  Prince.”  For  this  timely  aid,  the 
latter  was  not  ungrateful:  Being  “glad  of  so 
brave  a commander,  and  so  many  expert  and 
ancient  souldiers,”  he  made  Meldritch  “camp- 
master  of  his  armie,”  and  furnished  whatever 
necessaries  were  required  by  his  troops,  giving 
them  also  “what  freedome  they  desired  to  plun- 
der the  Turkes.”  It  so  happened  that  the  Turks 
were  at  this  time  in  possession  of  that  part  of 
Transylvania  in  which  the  count’s  paternal  es- 
tates were  situated,  and  it  was  very  natural  that 
he  should  wish  to  expel  “the  insolent  foe”  from 
this  territory,  in  preference  to  any  other.  He 
therefore  “desired  leave  of  the  Prince  to  trie  his 
fortunes  [in  that  quarter],  and  to  make  use  of 
that  experience  the  time  of  twentie  yeares  had 
taught  him  in  the  emperour’s  service,  promising 
to  spend  the  rest  of  his  dayes  for  his  countries 
defence  in  his  excellencies  service.” 


34  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

This  arrangement  being  satisfactory  to  all 
parties,  and  more  particularly  to  Smith,  who 
could  thereby  continue  to  indulge  his  inclina- 
tion for  “fighting  the  Turkes,”  Meldritch  made 
many  incursions  into  the  invaded  territory,  then 
occupied,  we  are  told,  by  “some  Turkes,  some 
Tartars,  but  most  Bandittoes,  Rennegadoes,  and 
such  like,”  whom  he  occasionally  “forced  into 
the  plaines  of  Regall.”  Here,  we  are  also  told-, 
was  “a  citie  not  only  of  men  and  fortifications, 
strong  of  itselfe,  but  so  environed  with  rrioun- 
taines”  that  “no  attempt  had  been  made  upon 
it  to  any  purpose.”  Having  selected  a spot  for 
encampment — one  possessing  “the  most  conve- 
nient passages  for  bringing  bis  armie  unto  it — 
the  earth  no  sooner  put  on  hbr  greene  habit, 
than  the  Earle  overspread  her  with  his  armed 
troopes.”  Great  difficulties  were  encountered 
in  transporting  the  ordnance  and  stores  up  the 
“rugged  acclivious  slopes;”  but  energy  and  per- 
severance overcame  every  obstacle,  and  at  last 
eight  thousand  men  were  enabled  to  pitch  their 
tents  before  the  city.  In  the  interim,  the  Turks 
had  so  “strengthened  the  towne  with  men  and 
provision,  that  they  made  a scorne  of  so  small 
a number  as  Meldritch  brought  with  him” — 
frequently  sallying  forth,  and  engaging  in  a skir- 
mish, as  if  for  mere  pastime;  but  on  one  occa- 
sion “they  had  rather  a bloudy  battell  than  a 
skirmish,”  in  which  “ the  losse  was  neere  fifteen 
hundred  on  both  sides.”  The  Christians,  how- 
ever, were  soon  reinforced  by  “nine  thousand 
foot  and  horse,  and  six-and-twentie  peeces  of 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  35 

ordnance,”  under  Prince  Moyses,  who  at  once 
assumed  the  chief  command.  As  even  this 
additional  strength  did  not  warrant  them  in  at- 
tempting to  storm  the  town,  they  were  contented 
with  making  immediate  preparations  for  bringing 
their  effective  ordnance  into  play.  Presuming 
that  the  necessary  approaches  were  made  secun- 
dum artem , it  of  course  required  time;  nearly  a 
month  was  spent  “in  entrenching  themselves 
and  raising  their  mounts  to  plant  their  batteries, 
which  slow  proceedings  the  Turks  oft  derided,” 
at  the  same  time  ironically  expressing  their  fears 
that  the  besiegers  would  depart  without  attempt- 
ing an  assault  upon  their  city.  Among  other 
bravadoes,  they  “sent  this  challenge  to  any 
cnptaine  in  the  armie: 

“That  to  delight  the  Ladies,  who  did  long 
to  see  some  court-like  pastime,  the  Lord  Turba- 
shaw  did  defie  any  Captaine,  that  had  the  com- 
mand of  a Company,  who  durst  combate  with 
him  for  his  head:  The  matter  being  discussed, 

it  was  accepted,  but  so  many  questions  grew  for 
the  undertaking,  it  was  decided  by  lots,  which 
fell  upon  Captaine  Smith,  before  spoken  of. 

“Truce  being  made  for  that  time,  the  Ram- 
piers  all  beset  with  faire  Dames,  and  men  in 
Amies,  the  Christians  in  Battalio;  Turbashaw 
with  a noise  of  Howboyes  entered  the  field  well 
mounted  and  armed ; on  his  shoulders  were  fixed 
a paire  of  great  wings,  compacted  of  Eagles 
feathers  within  a ridge  of  silver,  richly  garnished 
with  gold  and  precious  stones,  a Janizary  before 
him,  bearing  his  Lance,  on  each  side  another 


36  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

leading  his  horse;  where  long  hee  stayed  not, 
ere  Smith  with  a noise  of  Trumpets,  only  a page 
bearing  his  Lance,  passing  by  him  with  a court- 
eous salute,  tooke  his  ground  with  such  goode 
successe,  that  at  the  sound  of  the  charge,  he 
passed  the  Turke  thorow  the  sight  of  his  Beaver, 
face,  head  and  all,  that  he  fell  dead  to  the  ground, 
where  alighting  and  unbracing  his  Helmet,  cut 
off  his  head,  and  the  Turkes  tooke  his  body; 
and  so  returned  without  any  hurt  at  all.  The 
head  hee  presented  to  the  Lord  Moses,  the  Gen- 
erali, who  kindly  accepted  it,  and  with  joy  to  the 
whole  armie  he  was  generally  welcomed. 

“The  death  of  this  Captaine  so  swelled  in  the 
heart  of  one  Grualgo,  his  vowed  friend,  as  rather 
inraged  with  madnesse  than  choller,  he  directed 
a particular  challenge  to  the  Conquerour,  to  re- 
gaine  his  friends  head,  or  lose  his  owne,  with  his 
horse  and  Armour  for  advantage,  which  accord- 
ing to  his  desire  was  the  next  day  undertaken: 
as  before  upon  the  sound  of  the  Trumpets,  their 
Lances  flew  in  peeces  upon  a cleare  passage, 
but  the  Turke  was  neere  unhorsed.  Their  pis- 
tolls  was  the  next,  which  marked  Smith  upon  the 
placard;  but  the  next  shot  the  Turke  was  so 
wounded  in  the  left  arme,  that  being  not  able 
to  rule  his  horse,  and  defend  himselfe,  he  was 
throwne  to  the  ground,  and  so  bruised  with  the 
fall,  that  he  lost  his  head,  as  his  friend  before  him, 
with  his  horse  and  Armour;  but  his  body  and 
his  rich  apparell  was  sent  backe  to  the  Towne. 

“Every  day  the  Turkes  made  some  sallies, 
but  few  skirmishes  would  they  endure  to  any 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  37 

purpose.  Our  workes  and  approaches  being  not 
yet  advanced  to  that  height  and  effect  which 
was  of  necessitie  to  be  performed ; to  delude 
time,  Smith  with  so  many  incontradictible  per- 
swading  reasons,  obtained  leave  that  the  Ladies 
might  know  he  was  not  so  much  enamoured  of 
their  servants  heads,  but  if  any  Turke  of  their 
ranke  would  come  to  the  place  of  combate  to 
redeeme  them,  should  have  his  also  upon  the  like 
conditions,  if  he  could  winne  it. 

“The  challenge  presently  was  accepted  by 
Bonny  Mulgro.  The  next  day  both  the  Cham- 
pions entring  the  field  as  before,  each  discharg- 
ing their  Pistoll,  having  no  Lances,  but  such 
martiall  weapons  as  the  defendant  appointed,  no 
hurt  was  done ; their  Battle-axes  was  the  next ; 
whose  piercing  bils  made  sometime  the  one, 
sometime  the  other  to  have  scarce  sense  to 
keepe  their  saddles,  specially  the  Christian  re- 
ceived such  a blow  that  he  lost  his  Battle-axe, 
and  failed  not  much  to  have  fallen  after  it,  where- 
at the  supposing  conquering  Turk  had  a great 
shout  from  the  Rampiers.  The  Turk  prosetuted 
his  advantage  to  the  uttermost  of  his  power:  yet 
the  other,  what  by  the  readinesse  of  his  horse, 
and  his  judgment  and  dexterity  in  such  a busi- 
nesse,  beyond  all  mens  expectation,  by  Gods  as- 
sistance, not  onely  avoided  the  Turkes  violence, 
but  having  drawne  his  Faulchion,  pierced  the 
Turke  so  under  the  Culets  thorow  back  and 
body,  that  although  he  alighted  from  his  horse, 
he  stood  not  long  ere  hee  lost  his  head,  as  the 
rest  had  done.  ” 

4 


38  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

‘‘This  good  successe  gave  such  great  encour- 
agement to  the  whole  Armie,  that  with  a guard 
of  six  thousand,  three  spare  horses,  before  each 
a Turkes  head  upon  a Lance,  he  was  conducted 
to  the  Generalls  Pavillion  with  his  Presents. — 
Moyses  received  both  him  and  them  with  as 
much  respect  as  the  occasion  deserved,  and 
embracing  him  in  his  armes,  gave  him  a faire 
Horse,  richly  furnished,  a Semitere  and  belt 
worth  three  hundred  ducats;  and  Meldritch 
made  him  Sergeant  major  of  his  regiment/’ 

To  these  warlike  pastimes  succeeded  more 
fierce  encounters,  in  which  all  the  forces  of  both 
sides  were  engaged,  and  which  eventually  re- 
sulted in  an  overwhelming  victory  for  the  Chris- 
tians. After  sacking  several  towns,  and  taking 
two  thousand  prisoners,  mostly  women  and  chil- 
dren, the  army  retraced  its  steps,  and  encamped 
at  Esenberg.  While  here,  Sigismund  visited 
the  encampment,  and  “was  made  acquainted 
with  the  service  Smith  had  done  at  Olympagh, 
Stowle-Wesenburg  and  Regall,  for  which  with 
great  honour  hee  gave  him  three  Turkes  heads 
in  a Shield  for  his  Armes,  by  Patent,  under  his 
hand  and  Seale,  with  an  Oath  ever  to  weare  f 
them  in  his  Colours,  his  Picture  in  Gould,  and 
three  hundred  Ducats  yeerely  for  a Pension.” 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


39 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Sigismund  withdraws  to  private  life — Transfer  of  the  Army- 
Revolt  of  Wallachia — Activity  of  Smith  in  the  Battles  which 
followed — He  is  wounded,  captured,  and  sold  into  Slavery 
— Kills  his  Master  and  Escapes — Diploma  of  his  Title — Visits 
Africa — Returns  to  England, 

Soon  after  the  events  just  recorded,  Sigismund 
concluded  a peace  with  the  emperor,  receiving 
a magnificent  pension  in  lieu  of  an  independent 
crown;  and  retired  to  Prague,  where  he  after- 
wards entertained  his  friends  in  the  character 
of  a private  nobleman.  The  services  of  his 
army  were  transferred  to  the  emperor;  and  as 
the  transfer  was  not  wholly  acceptable  to  many 
who  had  espoused  the  cause  of  Sigismund  from 
principle,  it  was  apparent  that  the  only  way  of 
securing  their  fidelity,  was  by  keeping  them  ac- 
tively employed.  An  opportunity  to  satisfy  their 
restlessness  soon  occurred ; for  the  inhabitants  of 
Wallachia,  (then  a province  of  Turkey,)  driven 
to  revolt  by  the  tyranny  of  Jeremy,  their  way- 
wode,  or  governor, # applied  to  the  emperor  for 
assistance,  which  he  very  gladly  afforded,  and 
conferred  the  governorship  on  Lord  Rodoll. — 
The  Earl  of  Meldritch,  with  an  army  of  thirty 
thousand  men — the  elite  of  those  troops  who  had 
been  serving  Sigismund — accompanied  by  Smith 
and  a host  of  other  gallant  officers,  went  to  sup- 
port the  claims  of  the  emperor’s  new  waywode. 

* This  official  had  been  recently  appointed  in  place  of 
Michael,  a popular  ruler,  deceased. 


40  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

In  the  mean  time,  Jeremy  had  raised  an  army 
of  forty  thousand  Tartars,  Moldavians,  and 
Turks,  to  assist  in  reestablishing  his  authority; 
and  with  this  force  he  fortified  himself  in  the 
Plains  of  Peske,  awaiting  the  arrival  of  reinforce- 
ments from  “the  Crym-Tartar.”  What  followed 
is  vividly  described  in  an  old  book,  entitled  “ The 
Warres  of  Hung  aria,  Walla  cilia,  and  Molda- 
via,”  written  by  Francisco  Ferneza,  “a  learned 
Italian,  and  the  prince’s  secretaire, — translated 
by  Mr.  Purchas.”  No  apology  will  be  required 
for  extracting  the  details  entire,  as  they  afford 
a better  picture  of  the  sanguinary  scenes  than 
could  be  gathered  from  any  modern  version: 
“Rodoll  not  .knowing  how  to  draw  the  enemie 
to  battell,  raised  his  Arme,  burning  and  spoyling 
all  where  he  came,  and  returned  againe  towards 
Rebrinke  in  the  night;  as  if  he  had  fled  upon 
the  generall  rumour  of  the  Crym-Tartars  com- 
ing, which  so  inflamed  the  Turkes  of  a happy 
victory,  they  vrged  Ieremy  against  his  will  to 
follow  them.  Rodoll  seeing  his  plot  fell  out  as 
he  desired,  so  ordered  the  matter,  that  having 
regained  the  streights,  he  put  his  Army  in  order, 
that  had  beene  neere  two  dayes  pursued,  with 
continuall  skirmishes  in  his  Reare,  which  now 
making  head  against  the  enemie,  that  followed 
with  their  whole  Armie  in  the  best  manner  they 
could,  was  furiously  charged  with  six  thousand 
Hydukes,  Wallachians,  and  Moldavians,  led  by 
three  Colonells,  Oversall,  Dubras,  and  Caleb,  to 
entertaine  the  time  till  the  rest  came  up;  Veltus 
and  Nederspolt  with  their  Regiments,  entertained 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  41 

them  with  the  like  courage,  till  the  Zanzacke 
Hamesbeg,  with  six  thousand  more,  came  with 
a fresh  charge,  which  Meldritch  and  Budendorfe, 
rather  like  enraged  lions  than  men,  so  bravely- 
encountered,  as  if  in  them  only  had  consisted 
the  victory  ; Meldritchs  horse  being  slaine  vnder 
him,  the  Turks  pressed  what  they  could  to  have 
taken  him  prisoner,  but  being  remounted,  it  was 
thought  with  his  owne  hand  he  slew  the  valiant 
Zanzacke,  whereupon  his  troopes  retyring,  the 
two  proud  Bashawes,  Aladin  and  Zizimmus, 
brought  up  the  front  of  the  body  of  their  battell. 
Veltus  and  Nederspolt  having  breathed,  and 
joyning  their  troopes  with  Becklefield  and  Zar- 
vana,  with  such  an  incredible  courage  charged 
the  left  flancke  of  Zizimmus,  as  put  them  all  in 
disorder,  where  Zizimmus  the  Bashaw  was  taken 
prisoner,  but  died  presently  upon  his  wounds. 
Ieremie  seeing  now  the  rnaine  battell  of  Rodoll 
advance,  being  thus  constrained,  like  a valiant 
Prince  in  his  front  of  the  Vantgard,  by  his  ex- 
ample so  brauely  encouraged  his  souldiers,  that 
Rodoll  found  no  great  assurance  of  the  victorie. 
Thus  being  joyned  in  this  bloudy  massacre,  that 
there  was  scarce  ground  to  stand  upon,  but  upon 
the  dead  carkasses,  which  in  lesse  than  an  hower 
were  so  mingled,  as  if  each  Regiment  had  singled 
out  other.  The  admired  Aladin  that  day  did 
leave  behinde  him  a glorious  name  for  his  valour, 
whose  death  many  of  his  enemies  did  lament 
after  the  victory,  which  at  that  instant  fell  to 
Rodoll.  It  was  reported  Ieremie  was  also  slaine, 
but  it  was  not  so,  but  fled  with  the  remainder  of 
4* 


42  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

his  Armie  to  Moldavia,  leaving  five  and  twenty 
thousand  dead  in  the  field,  of  both  Armies. — 
And  thus  Rodoll  was  seated  againe  in  his  Soue- 
raignty,  and  Wallachia  became  subject  to  the 
Emperour. 

“But  long  he  rested  not  to  settle  his  new  es- 
tate,  but  there  came  newes  that  certaine  Regi- 
ments of  stragling  Tartars  were  foraging  those 
parts  towards  Moldavia.  Meldritch  with  thir- 
teene  thousand  men  was  sent  against  them,  but 
when  they  heard  it  was  the  Crym-Tartar  and 
sonnes,  with  an  Army  of  thirty  thousand;  and 
Ieremie,  that  had  escaped  with  fourteene  or  fif- 
teene  thousand,  lay  in  ambush  for  them  about 
Langanaw,  he  retired  towards  Rottenton,  a 
strong  garrison  for  Rodoll ; but  they  were  so  en- 
vironed with  these  hellish  numbers,  they  could 
make  no  great  haste  for  skirmishing  with  their 
scouts,  forragers,  and  small  parties  that  still  en-' 
countered  them.  But  one  night,  amongst  the 
rest,  having  made  passage  through  a wood,  with 
an  incredible  expedition,  cutting  trees  thwart 
each  other  to  hinder  their  passage,  in  a thicke 
fogge  early  in  the  morning,  unexpectedly  they 
met  two  thousand  loaded  with  pillage,  and  two 
or  three  hundred  horse  and  cattell;  the  most  of  t 
them  were  slaine  and  taken  prisoners,  who  told 
them  where  Ieremie  lay  in  the  passage,  expecting 
the  Cry  in- Tartar  that  was  not  farre  from  him. 
Meldritch  intending  to  make  his  passage  per- 
force, was  advised  of  a pretty  stratagem  by  the 
English  Smith,  which  presently  he  thus  accom- 
plished; for  having  accommodated  two  or  three 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  43 

hundred  truncks  with  wilde  fire,  vpon  the  heads 
of  lances,  and  charging  the  enemie  in  the  night, 
gave  fire  to  the  truncks,  which  blazed  forth  such 
flames  and  sparkles,  that  it  so  amazed  not  onely 
their  horses,  but  their  foot  also;  that  by  the 
meanes  of  this  flaming  encounter,  their  owne 
horses  turned  tailes  with  such  fury,  as  by  their 
violence  overthrew  Ieremy  and  his  Army,  with- 
out any  losse  at  all  to  speak  of  to  Meldritch. 
But  of  this  victory  long  they  triumphed  not;  for 
being  within  three  leagues  of  Rottenton,  the 
Tartar  with  neere  forty  thousand  so  beset  them, 
that  they  must  either  fight,  or  be  cut  in  peeces 
flying.  Here  Busca  and  the  Emperour  had  their 
desire;  for  the  Sunne  no  sooner  displayed  his 
beames,  than  the  Tartar  his  colours;  where  at 
midday  he  stayed  a while,  to  see  the  passage  of 
a tyrannicall  and  treacherous  imposture,  till  the 
earth  did  blush  with  the  bloud  of  honesty,  that 
the  Sunne  for  shame  did  hide  himselfe,  from  so 
monstrous  sight  of  a cowardly  calamity.  It 
was  a most  brave  sight  to  see  the  banners  and 
ensignes  streaming  in  the  aire,  the  glittering  of 
Armour,  the  variety  of  colours,  the  motion  of 
plumes,  the  forrests  of  lances,  and  the  thicknesse 
of  shorter  weapons,  till  the  silent  expedition  of 
the  bloudy  blast  from  the  murdering  Ordnance, 
whose  roaring  voice  is  not  so  soone  heard,  as 
felt  by  the  aymed  at  object,  which  made  among 
them  a most  lamentable  slaughter. 

“ In  the  valley  of  Veristhorne,  betwixt  the  river 
of  Altus  and  the  mountaine  of  Rottenton,  was 
this  bloudy  encounter,  where  the  most  of  the 


44 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


dearest  friends  of  the  noble  Prince  Sigismundus 
perished.  Meldritch  having  ordered  his  eleven 
thousand  in  the  best  manner  he  could ; at  the 
foot  of  the  mountaine  upon  his  flancks,  and  be- 
fore his  front,  he  had  pitched  sharpe  stakes,  their 
heads  hardened  in  the  fire,  and  bent  against  the 
enemie,  as  three  battalion  of  Pikes,  amongst  the 
which  also  there  was  digged  many  small  holes. 
Amongst  those  stakes  was  ranged  his  footmen, 
that  upon  the  charge  was  to  retire,  as  there  was 
occasion.  The  Tartar  having  ordered  his  40000. 
for  his  best  advantage,  appointed  Mustapha  Ba- 
shaw to  beginne  the  battell,  with  a generall  shout, 
all  their  Ensignes  displaying,  Drummes  beating, 
Trumpets  and  Howboyes  sounding.  Nederspolt 
and  Mavazo  with  their  Regiments  of  horse  most 
valiantly  encountered,  and  forced  them  to  retire; 
the  Tartar  Begolgi  with  his  Squadrons,  darken- 
ing the  skies  with  their  flights  of  numberles 
arrowes,  who  was  bravely  encountred  by  Veltus 
and  Oberwin,  which  bloudie  slaughter  continued 
more  than  an  houre,  till  the  matchlesse  multitude 
of  the  Tartars,  so  increased,  that  they  retired 
within  their  Squadrons  of  stakes  as  was  directed. 
The  bloudy  Tartar,  as  scorning  he  should  stay 
so  long  for  the  victorie,  with  his  massie  troopes 
prosecuted  the  charge:  but  it  was  a wonder  to 
see  how  horse  and  man  came  to  the  ground 
among  the  stakes,  whose  disordered  troopes  were 
so  mangled,  that  the  Christians  with  a loud  shout 
cryed  Victoria;  and  with  five  or  six  field  peeces, 
planted  vpon  the  rising  of  a mountaine,  did  much 
hurt  to  the  enemy  that  still  continued  the  battell 


I 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  45 

with  that  furie,  that  Meldritch,  seeing  there  was 
no  possibilitie  to  long  preuaile,  ioyned  his  small 
troopes  in  one  body,  resolued  directly  to  make 
his  passage  or  die  in  the  conclusion;  and  thus 
in  grosse  gaue  a general  charge,  and  for  more 
than  half  an  houre  made  his  way  plaine  before 
him,  till  the  maine  battel  of  the  Crym-Tartar 
with  two  regiments  of  Turkes  and  Ianizaries  so 
overmatched  them,  that  they  were  overthrowen. 
The  night  approaching,  the  Earle  with  some 
thirteene  or  fourteene  hundred  horse,  swamme 
the  River;  some  were  drowned,  all  the  rest  slaine 
or  taken  prisoners:  And  thus  in  this  bloudy  field 
neere  30000.  lay,  some  headlesse,  armelesse  and 
leglesse,  all  cut  and  mangled;  where  breathing 
their  last,  they  gaue  this  knowledge  to  the  world, 
that  for  the  hues  of  so  few,  the  Crym-Tartar 
neuer  paid  dearer.” 

“In  this  dismall  battell,”  most  of  the  principal 
officers  were  slain,  together  with  a large  propor- 
tion of  the  foreign  adventurers  who  had  gone  to 
the  wars  “in  defence  of  Christ  and  his  Gospell.” 
Smith  perpetuates  the  names  of  a few  English- 
men, “ who  did  what  men  could  doe,  and  when 
they  could  doe  no  more,  left  there  their  bodies 
in  testimonie  of  their  mindes.”  He  was  very 
severely  wounded,  and  lay  groaning  among  the 
rest,  when  he  was  found  by  some  pillagers;  who, 
judging  by  his  armor  and  habit  that  “his  ransome 
might  be  better  to  them  than  his  death,”  were  at 
some  pains  to  cure  his  wounds.  When  he  was 
sufficiently  recovered,  he  was  sent,  with  many 
others,  to  Axiopolis,  where  “they  were  all  sold  for 


46  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

slaves,  like  beasts  in  a market-place.”  He  was 
purchased  by  one  Bashaw  Bogall,  who  sent  him 
forthwith  to  Constantinople,  as. a present  to  his 
young  mistress,  Charatza  Tragabigzanda — in- 
forming her  that  he  was  a Bohemian  lord,  con- 
quered by  his  hand.  The  young  lady  at  once 
manifested  interest  enough  in  her  new  slave  to 
inquire  into  the  circumstances  of  his  captivity; 
and  when  she  was  made  acquainted  with  the 
truth — when  she  was  satisfied  of  the  deception 
that  Bogall  had  attempted — “she  tooke  much 
compassion  on  him.  But  having  no  use  for  him, 
lest  her  mother  should  sell  him,  she  sent  him  to 
her  brother,  the  Tymor  Bashaw  of  Nalbrits,  in 
the  Countrey  of  Cambia,  a Province  in  T artaria.” 
Not  satisfied  with  placing  him  beyond  the  dan- 
ger of  being  transferred  to  other  owners,  “this 
kinde  ladie  writ  so  much  for  his  good  usage  ” that 
her  brother  half  suspected  some  latent  intentions 
on  her  part  of  eventually  forming  other  relations 
than  those  of  owner  and  slave;  “for  shee  told 
him  he  should  there  but  sojourne  to  learne  the 
language,  and  what  it  was  to  be  a Turke,  till 
time  made  her  Master  of  her  selfe.” 

Whatever  the  lady’s  plans  were,  they  were 
sadly  frustrated  ; for  her  brother,  instead  of  treat- 
ing Smith  with  the  kindness  anticipated,  “within 
an  houre  after  his  arrivall,  caused  his  Drub-man 
to  strip  him  naked,  and  shave  his  head  and  beard 
so  bare  as  his  hand.  A great  ring  of  iron,  with 
a long  stalke  bowed  like  a sickle,  was  riveted 
about  his  necke,”  and  he  was  then  clothed  with 
a coat  of  coarse  hair-cloth,  “guarded  [girded] 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  47 

about  with  a piece  of  an  undrest  skinne.”  It 
will  be  readily  surmised  that  the  general  appear- 
ance of  his  figure  was  any  thing  but  gratifying 
to  our  hero.  But  the  worst  has  not  been  told. 
“There  were  many  more  Christian  slaves,  and 
neere  an  hundred  of  Forsados  of  Turkes  and 
Moores,  and  he  being  the  last,  was  slave  of  slaves 
to  them  all.  Amon^  these  slavish  fortunes  there 
was  no  great  choice ; for  the  best  was  so  bad,  a 
dog  could  hardly  have  lived  to  endure,  and  yet 
for  all  their  paines  and  labours,  no  more  regarded 
than  a beast. ” 

In  the  midst  of  all  his  sufferings,  the  thoughts 
of  Smith  were  frequently  turned  towards  the 
fair  sister  of  his  cruel  master.  It  was  her  love, 
of  which  perhaps  he  had  some  indistinct  percep- 
tions, that  encouraged  him  to  cherish  the  hope 
of  being  delivered  from  his  thraldom;  and  he 
concluded  of  course  that  she  (who  “surely  was 
ignorant  of  his  bad  usage,”)  would  sooner  or 
later  contrive  some  means  for  his  emancipation. 
Yet  it  is  pretty  evident  that  he  was  not  inclined 
to  rely  solely  upon  this  chance;  for  he  often 
“debated  the  matter  with  some  Christians  who 
had  been  there  a long  time  slaves,  and  they  could 
not  find  how  to  make  an  escape  by  any  reason 
or  possibility.”  Whether  it  was  a matter  of 
favor  or  not,  it  is  hard  to  say;  but  we  are  told 
that  “he  became  a thresher  at  a grange  in  a 
great  field,  more  than  a league  from  the  Tymor’s 
house,”  where  he  was  often  visited  by  the  ba- 
shaw. One  day— the  last  of  his  earthly  pilgrim- 
age— his  persecutor  “tooke  occasion  so  to  beat, 


I 


• 48  LIFE  AND  AD  VENTURES  OF 

j spurne,  and  revile  him,  that,  forgetting  all  reason, 
l he  beat  out  the  Tymor’s  braines  with  his  thresh- 
ing-bat, for  they  have  no  flailes;  and  seeing  his 
! estate  could  be  no  worse  than  it  was,  clothed 
nimself  in  his  clothes,  hid  his  body  under  the 
straw,  filled  his  knapsacke  with  corne,  mounted 
his  horse,  and  ranne  into  the  desart  at  all  adven- 
ture/' Here  he  wandered  about  for  two  or 
three  days,  he  knew  not  whither,  until  “God  did 
direct  him  to  the  great  way  or  Castragan,  as 
they  call  it,  which  doth  crosse  these  large  terri- 
tories." “In  every  crossing  of  this  great  way 
is  planted  a post,  and  in  it  so  many  bobs  with 
broad  ends  as  there  be  wayes,  and  every  bob 
the  figure  painted  on  it  that  demonstrated!  to 
what  part  that  way  leadeth;  as  that  wThich 
pointeth  towards  the  Crym’s  Country,  is  marked 
with  a halfe  Moone;  if  towards  the  Georgians 
and  Persia,  a blacke  man,  full  of  white  spots; 
if  towards  China,  the  picture  of  the  Sunne;  if 
towards  Muscovia,  the  signe  of  a Crosse;  if 
towards  the  habitation  of  any  other  Prince,  the 
figure  whereby  his  standard  is  knowne." 

The  particularity  with  which  the  very  guide- 
posts  are  described,  is  clear  evidence  that  Smith, 
although  he  “travelled  in  feare  and  torment," 
was  not,  even  under  such  circumstances,  heed- 
less of  surrounding  objects.  He  took  the  road 
pointed  out  by  the  “signe  of  a crosse,"  and  fol- 
lowed it  for  sixteen  days,  when  he  arrived  at 
Ecopolis,  a Russian  garrison  on  the  river  Don. 
The  governor,  after  due  examination,  “tooke 
oft’  his  irons,  and  so  kindly  used  him,  he  thought 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  49 

himself  new  risen  from  death;  and  the  good 
Lady  Callamata  largely  supplied  all  his  wants.” 

As  this  spot  possessed  no  particular  attractions 
to  detain  him,  he  embraced  the  first  favorable 
opportunity  of  making  his  way  to  regions  more 
congenial  to  his  spirit.  At  his  departure  he  was 
furnished  by  the  governor  with  “friendly  letters,” 
which  secured  him  a warm  welcome  and  liberal 
treatment  in  several  provinces  through  which 
he  passed.  “In  all  his  life,”  he  says  “he  seldom 
met  with  more  respect,  mirth,  content  and  en- 
tertainment; and  not  any  governour  where  he 
came  but  gave  him  somewhat  as  a present,  be- 
sides his  charges;  seeing  themselves  as  subject 
to  the  like  calamity.” 

After  as  pleasant  a journey  as  could  be  made 
in  the  dreary  countries  through  which  he  passed, 
he  reached  Transylvania,  where  he  “found  so 
many  good  friends,  that,  but  to  see  and  rejoyce 
himselfe  (after  all  those  encounters)  in  his  native 
Country,  he  would  ever  hardly  have  left  them.” 
Feeling,  however,  the  force  of  the  old  saw,  “the 
best  of  friends  must  sometimes  part,”  he  did  not 
remain  long  to  partake  of  their  hospitalities  and 
bounties,  which,  judging  from  the  grateful  man- 
ner they  are  acknowledged,  must  have  been 
lavished  upon  him  with  no  measured  hand. 
Anxiously  desiring  to  greet  once  more  his  for- 
mer companions  in  arms,  he  set  out  for  Prague, 
visiting  and  examining  the  principal  interme- 
diate places  in  his  route.  He  was  not  disap- 
pointed in  receiving  a cordial  reception  at  the 
place  of  his  destination;  for  Sigismund,  not  only 
5 


50  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

gave  him  a diploma,*  confirming  the  honors  he 
had  formerly  conferred,  but  also  presented  him 
fifteen  hundred  ducats  to  repair  his  losses. 

* The  following  is  a copy  of  this  curious  document,  with 
the  certificate  of  its  admission  and  record  in  the  Herald’s 
College,  England: 

“Sigismvndvs  Bathor,  by  the  Grace  of  God,  Duke  of 
Transilvania,  Wallachia,  and  Moldavia,  Earle  of  Anchard, 
Salford  and  Growenda;  to  whom  this  Writing  may  come 
or  appeare.  Know  that  We  have  given  leave  and  licence 
to  Iohn  Smith  an  English  Gentleman,  Captaine  of  250. 
Souldiers,  under  the  most  Generous  and  Honourable  Henry 
Volda,  Earle  of  Meldritch,  Salmaria,  and  Peldoia,  Colonel  1 
of  a thousand  horse,  and  fifteene  hundred  foot,  in  the  warres 
of  Hungary,  and  in  the  Provinces  aforesaid  under  our 
authority;  whose  service  doth  deserve  all 'praise  and  per- 
petuall  memory  towards  us,  as  a man  that  did  for  God  and 
his  Country  overcome  his  enemies:  Wherefore  out  of  Our 
love  and  favour,  according  to  the  law  of  Armes,  We  have 
ordained  and  given  him  in  his  shield  of  Armes,  the  figure 
and  description  of  three  Turks  heads,  which  with  his 
sword  before  the  towne  of  Regall,  in  single  combat  he  did 
overcome,  kill,  and  cut  off,  in  the  Province  of  Transilvania. 
But  fortune,  as  she  is  very  variable,  so  it  chanced  and  hap- 
pened to  him  in  the  province  of  Wallachia,  in  the  yeare  of 
our  Lord,  1602.  the  18.  day  of  November,  with  many 
others,  as  well  Noble  men,  as  also  divers  other  Souldiers, 
were  taken  prisoners  by  the  Lord  Bashaw  of  Cambia,  a 
Country  of  Tartaria;  whose  cruelty  brought  him  such  good 
fortune,  by  the  helpe  and  power  of  Almighty  God,  that  hee 
delivered  himselfe,  and  returned  againe  to  his  company  and 
fellow  souldiers,  of  whom  We  doe  discharge  him,  and  this 
hee  hath  in  witnesse  thereof,  being  much  more  worthy  of 
a better  reward;  and  now  intends  to  returne  to  his  owne 
sweet  Country.  We  desire  therefore  all  our  loving  and 
kinde  kinsmen,  Dukes,  Princes,  Earles,  Barons,  Govern- 
ours  of  Townes,  Cities,  or  Ships,  in  this  Kingdome,  or 
any  other  Provinces  he  shall  come  in,  that  you  freely  let 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  51 

With  such  ample  means  for  further  indulging 
his  predominant  taste,  he  spent  some  time  in 
visiting  the  principal  cities  of  Germany,  France 
and  Spain — paying  particular  attention  to  the 
universities,  monasteries,  fortifications  and  other 
objects  of  literary,  religious  or  scientific  interest, 
which  were  prominent  at  that  period. 

“Being  thus  satisfied  with  Europe  and  Asia/'* 
he  says,  and  “ understanding  of  the  warres  in 
Barbary,”  he  went  from  Gibraltar  to  Tangiers, 
and  thence  to  Saffy,  where  he  became  acquaint- 
ed with  the  captain  of  a French  man-of-war, 
with  whom  he  “went  to  Morocco,  to  see  the 
ancient  monuments  of  that  renowmed  citie.” 

passe  this  the  aforesaid  Captaine,  without  any  hinderance 
or  molestation,  and  this  doing,  with  all  kindnesse  we  are 
always  ready  to  doe  the  like  for  you.  Sealed  at  Lipswiek 
in  Misenland,  the  ninth  of  December,  in  the  yeare  of  our 
Lord,  1603.  “ SIGISMVNDVS  BATHOR. 

“ With  the  proper  privilege  of  his  Majeslie .” 

44  To  all  and  singular,  in  what  place,  state,  degree,  order, 
or  condition  whatsoever,  to  whom  this  present  writing  shall 
come:  I,  William  Segar,  Knight,  otherwise  Garter,  and 
principal!  King  of  Armes  of  England,  wish  health.  Know 
that  I the  aforesaid  Garter,  do  witnesse  and  approve,  that 
this  aforesaid  Patent,  I have  seene,  signed,  and  sealed,  un- 
der the  proper  hand  and  Seale  Manual  of  the  said  Duke  of 
Transilvania,  and  a true  coppy  of  the  same,  as  a thing  for 
perpetuall  memory,  I have  subscribed  and  recorded  in  the 
Register  and  office  of  the  Heralds  of  Armes.  Dated  at 
London  the  nineteenth  day  of  August,  in  the  yeare  of  our 
Lord,  1625.  and  in  the  first  yeare  of  our  Soueraigne  Lord 
Charles  by  the  grace  of  God,  King  of  great  Britaine,  France, 
and  Ireland;  Defender  of  the  faith,  &c. 

“ WILLIAM  SEGAR.” 


52  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

Here  the  king’s  palace,  which  wras  “like  a citie 
of  itselfe,”  and  the  Christian  church,  attracted 
his  especial  attention.  After  noticing  a great 
brouch  of  iron  on  the  flat  square  steeple  of  the 
latter,  “whereon  is  placed  the  three  golden  balls 
of  Africa,”  he  informs  us  that  “against  those 
golden  balls  hath  been  shot  many  a shot,  (their 
weight  is  recorded  700  weight  of  pure  gold,  hol- 
low within,)  yet  no  shot  did  ever  hit  them,  nor 
could  ever  any  conspirator  attaine  that  honor  as 
to  get  them  downe.”  The  universities  which 
once  flourished,  and  sent  forth  famous  men, 
were  then  “but  stables  for  fowles  and  beasts,  and 
the  houses  in  most  parts  lay  tumbled  one  above 
another.”  He  was  told  “strange  tales  of  a great 
garden,  wherein  wrere  all  sorts  of  birds,  fishes, 
beasts,  fruits,  and  fountaines,  which,  for  beauty, 
art,  and  pleasure,  exceeded  any  place  known  in 
the  world,  though  now  nothing  but  dung-hills, 
pigeon-houses,  shrubs  and  bushes.”  Many  re- 
mains of  magnificent  temples,  towers,  ports,  and 
fountains — the  evidences  of  former  greatness 
and  prosperity — were  then  only  regarded  as 
the  “reliques  of  lamentable  ruines  and  sad 
desolation.” 

The  cause  of  those  “brawles  and  warres” 
with  which  the  country  was  then  distracted,  was 
a struggle  for  the  absolute  sovereignty  of  the 
empire,  suddenly  vacated  by  the  violent  death  of 
Muley  Hamet,  who  had  been  poisoned  by  one  of 
his  numerous  wives,  in  the  hope  of  establishing 
her  favorite  son,  Muley  Sidan,  upon  the  throne. 
This  case  of  poisoning  was  one  of  those  whole- 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  53 

sale  murders  which  in  this  “ enlightened  nine- 
teenth century/ ” and  in  this  section  of  the  world 
would  be  denounced  as  the  result  of  “ Awful 
Human  Depravity”  or  as  an  “ Unparalleled  and 
Inhuman  Butchery !”  but  in  Morocco,  they  had 
not  arrived  at  that  degree  of  refinement  which 
led  the  people  to  attach  any  high  moral  respon- 
sibility to  the  perpetrators  of  such  an  act,  espe- 
cially if  they  successfully  accomplished  the  object 
of  their  ambition.  The  emperor  was  not  the 
only  victim  sacrificed  by  his  wicked  “empresse, 
more  cruel  than  any  beast  in  Africa:  * * * 

her  own  daughter,  Muley  Shecke  (his  eldest 
sonne,  borne  of  a Portugall  Ladie)  and  his 
daughter,”  were  all  cut  off  at  “one  fell  swoop,” 
and  that,  too,  at  the  instigation  of  “a  saint  that 
started  up,  but  he  played  the  IDevill  Another 
son  of  Hamet,  however,  Muley  Besseres,  upset 
the  plans  of  this  saint-devil  and  his  adherents 
for  a time,  by  taking  possession  of  Morocco  and 
all  his  father’s  treasure ; but  Muley  Sidan  after- 
wards succeeded  in  raising  an  army,  which  he 
brought  against  his  brother,  and  took  him  pris- 
oner. At  this  crisis  of  affairs,  Smith,  becom- 
ing disgusted  with  “the  perfidious,  treacherous, 
bloudy  murthers  rather  than  warre,  among  those 
perfidious,  barbarous  Moores;”  concluded  to 
embark  again  with  his  French  captain  (Mer- 
ham)  for  Saffy,  “to  try  some  other  conclusions 
at  sea.” 

While  Merham  was  lying  in  the  roads,  he 
invited  Smith  and  two  or  three  more  guests 
“aboard  with  him,  where  he  spared  not  any 
5* 


54  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

thing  he  had  to  expresse  his  kindnesse  to  bid 
them  welcome ;”  or,  in  more  modern  parlance, 
these  boon  companions  had  such  a jolly  good 
time,  and  the  hours  fled  so  merrily  and  rapidly 
unawares,  that  it  was  at  last  found  too  late  to 
return  to  their  inns,  and  “necessitie  constrained 
them  to  stay  aboard.  A fairer  evening  could 
not  be,  yet  ere  midnight  such  a storm  did  arise, 
they  were  forced  to  let  slip  cable  and  anchor, 
and  put  to  sea;  spooning  before  the  wind  till 
they  were  driven  to  the  Canaries.  In  the  calmes 
they  accommodated  themselves,  hoping  this 
strange  accident  might  yet  produce  some  good 
event;”  nor  were  they  disappointed:  for,  not 
long  after,  they  took  a small  bark  from  Teneriffe, 
laden  with  wine.  After  cruising  about  here  for 
awhile,  capturing  several  other  vessels,  in  which 
they  found  but  little,  they  again  stood  for  the 
African  shore,  “betwixt  which  and  Cape  Noa 
they  descried  two  saile.  Merham,  intending  to 
know  what  they  were,  hailed  them;  very  civilly 
they  daused  their  topsailes,  and  desired  the  man 
of  warre  to  come  aboard  them,  and  take  what 
he  would,  for  they  were  but  two  poor  distressed 
Bickiners.  But  Merham,  the  old  fox,  seeing 
himselfe  in  the  lion’s  pawes,  sprung  his  loufe; 
the  other  tacked  after  him,  and  came  close  up 
to  his  nether  quarter,  gave  his  broad-side,  and 
so  loufed  up  to  windward;  the  Vice- Admiral! 
did  the  like,  and  at  the  next  bout  the  Admirall, 
with  a noise  of  trumpets,  and  all  his  ordnance, 
murtherers,  and  muskets,  boorded  him  on  his 
broad-side;  the  other  in  like  manner  on  his  lee 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


55 


quarter.”  The  Spaniards  were  so  warmly  re- 
ceived that  they  made  but  a short  stay,  prefer- 
ring gun  range  to  close  quarters,  and  leaving 
‘‘four  or  five  of  his  men  sprawling  over  the 
grating.  After  they  had  battered  Merham  about 
an  houre,  they  boorded  him  againe  as  before, 
and  threw  four  kedgers  or  grapnalls  in  iron 
chains;  then  sheering  off,  they  thought  so  to 
have  torne  downe  the  grating;  but  the  Admirall’s 
yard  was  so  int angled  in  their  shrouds,  Mer- 
ham had  time  to  discharge  two  cross-bar  shots 
amongst  them,  and  divers  bolts  of  iron  made 
for  that  purpose  against  his  bow,  that  made  such 
a breach,  he  feared  they  both  should  have  sunke 
for  company;  so  that-the  Spaniard  was  as  yare 
[ready]  in  shipping  his  chained  grapnalls,  as 
Merham  was  in  cutting  the  tackling  [which] 
kept  fast  their  yards  in  his  shrouds.”  Again 
clearing  themselves,  “the  vice-admirall  spared 
neither  his  ordnance  nor  muskets  to  keepe  Mer- 
ham from  getting  away  till  the  admirall  had  re- 
paired his  leake.  From  twelve  at  noone  till  six 
at  night  they  thus  interchanged  one  volley  for 
another;  when  the  vice-admirall  fell  astern,  stay- 
ing for  the  admirall  that  came  up  againe  to  him.” 
Merham,  finding  little  chance  of  gaining  any 
thing  but  hard  knocks,  hauled  off,  and  shaped 
his  course  for  Mamora,  but  made  such  small 
progress,  that  the  next  morning  he  found  him- 
self not  three  leagues  from  Cape  Noa,  and  “the 
two  Spanish  men  of  warre  (for  such  they  were, 
and  well  appointed,)”  close  upon  him.  They 
renewed  the  action  by  giving  him  “broad-side 


7t. 


56  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

and  sterne,  the  one  after  the  other,  within  mus- 
ket shot,  plying  their  ordnance;  and,  after  an 
houre’s  worke,  commanded  Merham  a maine 
[prize]  for  the  King  of  Spain  upon  faire  quarter. 
Merham  dranke  to  them,  and  so  discharged  his 
quarter  peeces."  This  was  certainly  cool,  and 
not  at  all  relished  by  the  Spaniards,  who  deter- 
mined once  more  to  try  their  hand  at  boarding. 
# # # “Many  of  them  were  got  to  the  top 

to  unsling  the  maine  saile,  which  the  Master  and 
some  others  from  the  round-house  caused  to  their 
cost  to  come  tumbling  downe ;"  a portion  of  the 
boarders  were  forced  to  the  great  cabin,  which 
was  soon  after  blown  up,  and  the  “smoke  and 
fire  was  so  vehement,' " that  the  ship  was  supposed 
to  be  on  fire ; the  forecastle  was  also  blown  up, 
“with  a peece  of  the  grating/'  making  sad 
havoc  among  the  Spaniards,  who  were  glad  to 
leave  in  double  quick-time.  Merham,  perceiving 
that  the  fire  was  making  rapid  headway,  for  a 
brief  space  turned  all  his  attention  to  subduing 
this  new  enemy.  By  means  of  “wet  clothes 
and  water"  covering  the  open  places  with  old 
sails  and  similar  appliances,  danger  was  soon 
overcome,  and  the  vessel  again  in  fighting  trim 
— “prepared  to  fight  to  the  last  man."  Merham 
not  only  succeeded  in  quenching  the  flames  in 
his  own  ship,  but  the  valor  of  the  Spaniards  also; 
for  they  “hung  out  a flagge  of  truce  to  have  a 
parley;  but  the  Frenchman,  knowing  “there 
was  but  one  way  with  him,"  let  them  have  “the 
report  of  his  ordnance,  which  he  did  well  know 
how  to  use  for  his  best  advantage.  Thus  they 


* 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


57 


spent  the  next  afternoone  and  halfe  that  night, 
when  the  Spaniards  either  lost  them  or  left  them. 
Seven-and-twentie  men  Merham  had  slaine,  and 
sixteene  wounded,  and  could  finde  they  had  re- 
ceived 140  great  shot.  A wounded  Spanyard 
they  had  kept  alive  confessed  they  had  lost  100 
men  in  the  Admirall,  which  they  did  feare  would 
sink  ere  they  could  recover  a port.” 

It  would  be  absurd  to  suppose  that  Smith  was 
a mere  looker-on  in  this  long-protracted  and 
sanguinary  struggle,  although  his  modesty  did 
not  allow  him  to  chronicle  any  achievement  of 
his  own  hand.  Merham  and  himself  were  so 
much  alike  in  spirit,  that  it  is  very  reasonable 
to  infer  that  either  would  have  readily  and  ably 
seconded  the  other  in  any  affair  of  this  kind,  even 
for  the  fun  of  it,  if  nothing  else.  After  return-* 
ing  to  Saffy,  Smith  took  leave  of  his  “gallant 
French  captaine,”  and  made  the  best  of  his  way 
to  England,  reaching  that  country  some  time 
in  the  year  1604. 

In  all  the  varied  scenes  through  which  he 
passed,  the  active  mind  of  Smith  was  ever  on 
the  alert.  No  object  of  interest  escaped  his 
notice;  and  the  stores  of  useful  knowledge  he 
was  constantly  accumulating,  he  was  always 
ready  to  dispense  to  others  less  fortunate  than 
himself.  Selfishness  formed  but  a very  small 
portion  of  his  composition;  and,  as  a general 
principle,  in  whatever  enterprise  he  engaged,  he 
was  prompted  by  some  higher  motive  than  mere- 
ly persona!  advantage.  To  “ see  the  world,”  and 
inform  himself  of  the  actual  condition  of  “nations 


58  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

beyond  sea,”  was  probably  his  “ ruling  passion;” 
and  while  indulging  in  this  species  of  errantry 
for  the  laudable  purpose  of  improving  himself, 
he  was  likewise  emulous  that  others  should  reap 
the  benefits  of  his  experience.  Even  while  in 
slavery  among  the  Tartars,  he  was  apparently 
as  much  occupied  in  observing  the  manners, 
customs,  and  institutions  of  that  rude  people,  as 
he  was  in  meditating  plans  for  his  escape.  This 
is  manifest  from  the  minuteness  with  which  he 
describes  their  towns,  cities,  dress,  religions,  en- 
tertainments, laws,  and  such-like  matters ; and 
the  memorials  he  has  left  will  enable  any  one  to 
form  a pretty  correct  estimate  of  the  country 
and  its  inhabitants.  Although  smarting  under 
the  cruel  wrongs  of  slavery,  he  was  too  magnan- 
imous to  withhold  a passing  tribute  to  whatever 
matter  he  regarded  as  worthy  of  commendation. 
Their  mode  of  administering  justice  is  mentioned 
with  peculiar  favor,  and  might  be  advantageously 
imitated  by  those  claiming  a higher  rank  in  the 
scale  of  humanity.  “The  glorious  uncertainty 
of  the  law”  is  not  a recognized  axiom  among 
the  Tartars;  but,  on  the  contrary,  we  are  told 
that  “justice  is  with  such  integrity  and  expedi- 
tion executed — without  covetousnesse,  bribery, 
partiality,  and  brawling — that  in  six  months  the 
judges  have  scarce  six  causes  to  heare.”  With- 
out, perhaps,  intending  to  do  so,  he  fully  accounts 
for  this  blessed  and  blessing  jurisprudence,  by 
further  informing  us  that  they  have  no  “lawyers 
nor  attournies”  among  them! 

While  in  Barbary  he  gathered  much  informa- 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  59 

tion  that  must  have  been  of  peculiar  value  in 
his  day,  and  which  he  interspersed  with  many 
amusing  and  instructive  anecdotes,  calculated 
to  interest  all  classes  of  readers.  In  Morocco,  he 
met  with  an  Englishman  named  Henry  Archer, 
a watch-maker,  who  had  been  induced  to  settle 
in  that  city  by  the  liberality  of  Muley  Hamet.* 
This  Archer  enjoyed  immunities  not  conceded 
to  any  other  individual,  yet,  John  Bull  like,  being 
a great  stickler  for  his  rights , he  sometimes 
created  a deal  of  useless  trouble  in  maintaining 
them.  On  one  occasion,  while  walking  from 
the  Alfantica  to  the  Juderea,  “the  way  being 
verie  foule,  he  met  a great  Priest,  or  a Sante , 
(as  they  call  all  great  clergy- men)  who  would 
have  thrust  him  into  the  durt  for  the  way ; but 
Archer,  not  knowing  what  he  was,  gave  him  a 
box  on  the  eare.  Presently  he  was  apprehended, 
and  condemned  to  have  his  tongue  cut  out,  and 
his  hand  cut  off;  but  no  sooner  was  it  knowen 
at  the  King’s  court,  but  300  of  his  guard  came, 
broke  open  the  prison,  and  delivered  him,  al- 
though the  fact  was  next  degree  to  treason.” 

Another  story  is  told  of  this  Archer,  develop- 
ing some  facts  which  are  interesting,  in  connec- 
tion with  natural  history:  “Not  far  from  Mount 

* “Muley  Hamet  was  not  blacke,  as  many  suppose,  but 
molato,  or  tawnie,  as  are  the  most  of  his  subjects — everie 
way  noble,  kinde,  and  friendly,  verie  rich  and  pompous  in 
state  and  majesty.”  He  “delighted  so  much  in  the  refor- 
mation of  workmanship,”  that  he  “entertained  from  Eng- 
land gold-smiths,  plummers,  carvers  and  polishers  of  stone, 
and  watch-makers.” 


60  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

Atlas,  a great  lioness  in  the  heat  of  the  day  was 
wont  to  bathe  herself,  and  teach  her  young  pup- 
pies to  swim,  in  the  river  Cauzeff,  of  a goodly 
breadth.”  She  would  frequently  carry  them  one 
after  another  over  the  river;  which  some  Moors 
perceiving,  watched  their  opportunity,  and  when 
the  river  was  between  her  and  them,  stole  four  of 
her  whelps.  On  perceiving  this,  with  all  possible 
speed  she  recrossed  the  river,  and  hastened  in 
pursuit.  When  almost  up  with  the  Moprs,  they 
dropped  one  of  the  whelps,  which  she  took  up 
in  her  mouth,  and  returned  to  those  she  had  left. 
A male  and  female  of  the  captured  three  were 
given  to  Archer,  who  kept  them  in  the  king’s 
garden  till  the  male  killed  the  female.  The  sur- 
viving one  he  “brought  up  as  a puppy-dog,” 
allowing  it  to  lie  upon  his  bed,  till  it  grew  to  the 
size  of  a mastiff,  and  no  dog  could  be  more  tame 
or  gentle  to  those  he  knew.  While  on  his  return 
to  England,  Archer  met  a merchant  of  Mar- 
seilles at  Saffy,  to  whom  he  presented  his  uncouth 
pet;  the  merchant,  on  reaching  home,  gave  it  to 
the  French  king;  and  he,  wishing  to  ingratiate 
himself  with  King  James,  sent  it  to  England  as 
a present  to  that  monarch.  Of  course,  it  was 
accepted,  and  placed  in  the  royal  menagerie. 
Seven  years  afterwards,  one  “Mr.  John  Bull,” 
who  had  formerly  been  a servant  of  Archer’s, 
in  company  with  some  friends,  went  to  see  the 
lions  in  the  Tower,  not  having  the  most  remote 
idea  of  meeting  an  old  playmate:  “yet  this  rare 
beast  smelled  him  before  he  saw  him — whining, 
groaning,  and  tumbling,  with  such  an  expression 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  61 

of  acquaintance,”  that,  being  informed  by  the 
keepers  how  he  came  thither,  Bull  at  once  sought 
permission  to  enter  the  cage.  This  being  grant- 
ed, he  went  in,  and  “no  dog  could  fawn  more  on 
his  master  than  the  lion  did  on  him — licking  his 
feet,  hands,  and  face — skipping  and  tumbling  to 
and  fro,  to  the  wonder  of  all  the  beholders.” — 
Being  satisfied  with  his  interview,  Bull  made 
shift  to  get  out  of  the  cage,  and  took  rather  an 
abrupt  leave  of  his  old  companion.  “ When  the 
lion  saw  his  friend  gone,  no  beast — by  bellowing, 
roaring,  scratching,  and  howling — could  express 
more  rage  and  sorrow,  nor  in  foure  days  after 
would  he  either  eat  or  drink.” 


CHAPTER  y. 

American  Settlements  in  Embryo — Smith  and  Gosnold  plan 
an  Expedition — Company  Formed,  and  Letters  Patent  grant- 
ed— Newport  selected  to  command  the  Vessels — The  Colo- 
nists leave  England — Early  Dissensions — Smith  made  a 
Prisoner — Arrival — Landing — The  Council — James  River — 
Explorations — Natives — Site  for  the  Town. 

For  a long  time  previous  to  Smith’s  arrival 
in  England,  the  public  mind  had  been  strongly 
directed  to  the  subject  of  colonizing  the  western 
world.  Already  many  enterprises  had  been  pro- 
jected, but  none  had  met  with  a success  at  all 
commensurate  with  the  expectations  of  the  peo- 
ple. Sir  Walter  Raleigh,  among  others,  had 
spent  immense  sums  in  endeavors  to  found  colo- 
nies; yet,  ow'ng,  as  was  supposed,  to  the  mis- 
6 


62 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


management  of  the  colonists  themselves,  all  his 
attempts  had  proved  futile.  In  1602,  Captain 
Bartholomew  Gosnold  had  made  a prosperous 
voyage  to  New  England,*  and  on  his  return  had 
given  so  favorable  an  account  of  the  fertility  of 
the  country  and  the  salubrity  of  the  climate, 
that  a lively  anxiety  was  awakened  for  its  colo- 
nization. Smith  and  Gosnold  soon  became  ac- 
quainted, and  the  former  at  once  entered  into 
the  plan  of  trying  his  fortune  in  this  new  field 
of  adventure.  “Certaine  of  the  Nobilitie,  Gen- 
try, and  Marchants,,  were  induced  to  become 
interested  in  the  scheme,  and  prevailed  upon 
King  James  I.,  in  April,  1606,  to  issue  letters 
patent  to  Sir  Thomas  Gates,  Sir  George  Somers, 
Richard  Hackluyt,  and  their  associates,  granting 
them  all  that  territory  lying  on  the  sea-coast 
between  the  thirty-fourth  and  forty-fifth  degrees 
of  north  latitude.  Two  companies  were  formed 
— one  composed  mostly  of  London  adventurers, 
and  the  other  of  gentlemen  from  the  W est  of 
England — and  to  the  first  was  assigned  the  south- 
ern portion  of  the  grant,  and  to  the  latter  the 
northern.  It  was  provided  in  the  patent  that 
t-he  general  direction  should  be  vested  in  a coun- 
cil resident  in  England,  to  be  nominated  by  the 
crown,  while  the  local  government  should  be 
confided  to  a colonial  council,  also  appointed  by 
the  crown,  who  were  to  carry  out  such  royal 
instructions  and  ordinances  as  might  from  time 

* It  may  not  be  amiss  to  state  that  the  whole  coast, 
southern  as  well  as  northern,  was  then  designated  as 
New  England. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


03 


to  time  be  promulgated.  With  a littleness  char- 
acteristic of  that  jealous  and  bigoted  monarch, 
King  James  further  insisted  upon  a proviso  that 
at  least  an  hundred  miles  should  intervene  be- 
tween their  respective  settlements. 

Nearly  a year  was  spent  in  gathering  colonists 
and  in  providing  three  vessels  for  the  expedition. 
In  these  days  of  leviathan  proportions,  an  incre- 
dulous smile  may  be  excited  by  the  statement 
that,  of  the  craft  employed,  one  was  a ship  of 
one  hundred  tons;  another  of  forty,  and  a third 
(pinnace)  of  twenty.  “The  transportation  of 
the  company  was  committed  to  Captain  Chris- 
topher Newport,  a Marriner  well  practised  for 
Westerne  parts  of  America.  But  their  orders 
for  government  were  put  in  a box,  not  to  be 
opened,  nor  the  governours  known,  untill  they 
arrived  in  Virginia.”* 

On  the  19th  of  December,  1606,  all  things 
being  in  readiness,  the  anchors  were  weighed,  the 
sails  spread,  and  many  eyes  turned  towards  Eng- 
land, gazing  on  “the  white  cliffs  of  Albion”  (as 
their  owners  thought)  for  the  last  time;  but  the 
elements  were  against  them;  for  six  weeks  they 
were  baffled  by  contrary  winds,  which  so  far 
impeded  their  progress,  that  they  were  on  the 

* The  absurd  “mysterious  secrecy”  with  which  King 
James  sought  to  invest  every  thing  that  he  took  any  part- 
in,  is  sufficiently  illustrated  by  this  one  ridiculous  act. 
Had  the  individuals  constituting  the  council  been  known 
previously  to  the  sailing  of  the  expedition,  no  doubt  much 
of  the  ill-feeling  and  dissension  which  occurred  during  the 
voyage,  and  which  led  to  irreparable  injury  afterwards, 
might  have  been  avoided. 


I 


64  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

point  of  returning,  when  a favoring  breeze  sprung 
up,  and  the  little  fleet,  big  with  the  future  great- 
ness of  America,  speeded  on  its  destination. — 
Partly  because  they  knew  of  no  better,  and 
partly  because  others  had  “gone  that  way  before 
them,”  they  took  the  circuitous  route  via . the 
Canary  islands,  where  they  stopped  for  the  pur- 
pose of  watering,  and  turning  an  honest  penny 
in  trade  with  the  natives. 

While  “Young  America”*  was  yet  weather* 
bound  on  the  English  coast,  frequent  dissensions 
occurred  among  the  leaders,  which  were  the 
source  of  much  trouble  and  bitterness.  The 
Rev.  Mr.  Hunt,  although  suffering  severely 
from  sickness,  interposed  his  friendly  offices 
occasionally,  and  endeavored  to  reconcile  the 
discontented;  but  his  services,  so  far  from 
being  properly  appreciated,  gave  rise  to  “the 
most  scandalous  imputations”  from  those  of  the 
“greatest  ranke,”  who  were  “little  better  than 
atheists.”  Smith  not  only  contended  manfully 
for  his  own  rights,  but  also  became  a champion 
for  the  reverned  gentleman — a course  which 
operated  unfavorably  for  his  personal  advantage, 
for  a time  at  least. 

When  arrived  at  the  Canaries,  the  discordant 

* A portion  of  those  embarked  in  thio  expedition,  who 
constituted  the  early  settlers  of  Virginia,  were  far  better 
entitled  to  this  appellation,  than  the  selfish  and  aspiring 
knot  of  political  demagogues  to  whom  modern  usage  has 
applied  it,  or  than  the  whole  “length  and  breadth  of  our 
domain,  reaching  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Specific  ocean,” 
as  Davy  Crockett  was  wont  classically  to  express  it. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  65 

elements,  which  had  been  so  long  partially  smoth- 
ered, burst  out  into  an  almost  uncontrollable 
flame.  Smith  was  accused  by  Wingfield  and 
others  of  the  most  unreasonable  plots  of  treason 
— of  meditating  the  massacre  of  the  principal 
colonists — and  “divers  other  foule  and  bloudy 
conclusions,”  which  had  no  other  foundations 
than  in  their  own  vile  and  envious  conceits,  al- 
though they  pretended  that  their  charges  could 
be  substantiated  by  the  testimony  of  some  who 
had  agreed  to  assist  Smith  in  his  alleged  designs. 
He  was  made  a prisoner  at  once,  and  held  in 
durance  during  the  remainder  of  the  voyage. 

Making  but  a short  stay  at  the  Canaries,  they 
next  steered  for  the  West  Indies,  where  three 
weeks  were  spent  in  refreshing  themselves,  and 
in  bartering  beads  and  baubles  for  native  pro- 
ductions. While  tarrying  in  these  pleasant 
regions,  some  of  the  voyageurs  visited  “Gward- 
alupa,”  and  were  not  a little  astonished  by  the 
discovery  of  “a  bath  so  hot,  that  in  it  they  boy  led 
porck  as  well  as  over  a fire.,,  The  lovers  of 
game , too,  must  have  had  a glorious  feast ; for 
we  are  told  that  “at  a little  isle  called  Monica, 
we  took  from  the  bushes  with  our  hands  neare 
two  hogsheads  full  of  birds  in  three  or  foure 
houres.”  But  this  was  not  their  only  feast:  in 
the  Virgin  and  other  isles  they  also  “spent  some 
time,  where  with  a lothsome  beast  like  a croco- 
dile, called  a gwayn,  tortoises,  pellicans,  parrots, 
and  fishes,”  they  “daily  feasted.” 

Being  thoroughly  refitted,  and  all  hands  ma- 
terially  refreshed,  the  expedition  proceeded  for 
6* 


66  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

its  final  destination.  By  some  untoward  means 
they  got  off  the  track,  and  were  “not  a little  dis- 
comforted, seeing  the  Marriners  had  three  dayes 
passed  their  reckoning  and  found  no  land;  so 
that  Captaine  Ratcliffe  (captaine  of  the  pin- 
nace) rather  desired  to  beare  up  the  helme  to 
returne  for  England,  than  make  further  search/’ 
But  fortunately  the  other  captains  were  not  so 
easily  disheartened,  or,  if  they  were,  they  had 
hardly  time  to  make  it  manifest;  for  a sudden 
and  severe  storm  coming  up,  they  were  compelled 
“ to  hull  all  night,”  during  which  time  they  were 
driven  “to  their  desired  port,  beyond  all  their 
expectations.”* 

The  first  land  they  made,  which  was  on  the 
26th  of  April,  1607,  they  caljed  Cape  Henry, 
where  (having  entered  Chesapeake  Bay)  thirty 
of  them,  while  enjoying  a visit  on  shore,  were 
assaulted  by  the  savages,  who  hurt  two  of  them'  j 
very  dangerously. f That  night  the  box  was  ; 
opened,  and  the  orders  read,  in  which  Bartholo- 
mew Gosnold,  John  Smith,  Edward-Maria  Wins;-  1 
field,  Christopher  Newport,  John  Ratcliffe,  John 
Martin,  and  George  Kendall  were  named  to  be 
the  council,  and  to  choose  a president  among 

* The  old  chronicler  is  here  a “ little  out  in  his  reckon- 
ing’’also:  Roanoke  was  their  “ desired  port,”  but  fortu-  | 
nately  the  storm  carried  them  to  a much  better  place. 

f One  of  the  first  incidents  that  attracted  the  attention 
of  those  who  landed,  was  the  sight  of  some  savages, 
“creeping  on  all  fourcs  from  the  hils  like  Beares;”  and 
although  they  took  to  their  heels  on  hearing  the  reports  of 
the  English  muskets,  the  abrupt  interview  was  not  likely, 
to  make  a very  favorable  impression  upon  either  party. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  G7 

them  for  a year,  who  with  the  council  should 
govern.  Matters  of  moment  were  to  be  exam- 
ined by  a jury,  but  determined  by  the  council, 
in  which  the  president  had  two  voices. 

From  the  day  of  their  arrival  until  the  13th  of 
May,  the  time  was  principally  occupied  in  seek- 
ing out  a suitable  location  for  their  settlement. 
This  was  of  course  a matter  of  no  small  anxiety, 
and  that  anxiety  was  not  lessened  by  the  hostile 
demonstrations  which  had  already  been  made 
by  the  Indians.  While  “ prospecting”  the  shores 
of  Chesapeake  Bay,  they  came  to  anchor  near 
the  northern  point  at  its  entrance,  upon  which 
they  bestowed  the  name  of  ‘‘Point  Comfort/'  on 
account  of  the  comfort  experienced  from  its 
good  anchorage.  Here  a large  party  went  on 
shore,  and  met  with  five  natives,  who  were  at 
first  inclined  to  flee  from  them;  but  when  they 
saw  the  captain  place  his  hand  on  his  heart,  they 
ventured  to  approach,  and  invited  him  to  visit 
their  town  (Kecoughtan).  None  of  the  party 
had  reason  to  regret  this  visit:  they  were  hospi- 
tably received  by  the  whole  tribe,  who  expressed 
their  welcome  by  a dance,  and  liberally  supplied 
them  with  corn-bread,  tobacco  and  pipes,  and 
such  other  commodities  as  were  at  their  disposal. 
Four  days  afterwards,  they  were  kindly  enter- 
tained by  the  chief  of  the  Pashiphay  tribe,  and 
received  an  invitation  from  the  chief  of  the 
Rappahannas  to  come  and  visit  him.  He  sent 
them  a messenger  to  guide  them  to  his  habitation, 
and  stood  on  the  banks  of  the  river  to  meet  them 
as  they  landed,  “with  all  his  train,"  (says  the 


68 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


writer,)  “as  goodly  men  as  any  I have  seen  of 
savages  or  Christians — the  wTerowance  [or  chief] 
coming  before  them,  playing  on  a flute  made  of 
a reed,  with  a crown  of  deer’s  hair,  colored  red, 
in  fashion  of  a rose,  fastened  about  his  knot  of 
hair,  and  a great  plate  of  copper  on  the  other 
side  of  his  head,  with  two  long  feathers  in  fash- 
ion of  a pair  of  horns  placed  in  the  midst  of  his 
crown.  His  body  was  painted  all  with  crimson, 
with  a chain  of  beads  about  his  neck;  his  face 
painted  blue,  besprinkled  with  silver  ore,  as  we 
thought;  his  ears  all  behung  with  bracelets  of 
pearl,  and  in  either  ear,  a bird’s  claw  through  it, 
beset  with  fine  copper  or  gold.  He  entertained 
us  in  so  modest  a proud  fashion,  as  though  he 
had  been  a prince  of  civil  government,  holding 
his  countenance  without  laughter  or  any  such 
ill  behavior.  He  caused  his  mat  to  be  spread 
on  the  ground,  where  he  sat  down  with  a great 
majesty,  taking  a pipe  of  tobacco,  the  rest  of 
his  company  standing  about  him,  After  he  had 
rested  awhile,  he  rose,  and  made  signs  to  us  to 
come  to  his  town.  He  went  foremost,  and  all 
the  rest  of  his  people  and  ourselves  followed  him 
up  a steep  hill,  where  his  place  was  settled.  We 
passed  through  the  woods  in  fine  paths,  having 
most  pleasant  springs  which  issued  from  the 
mountains.  We  also  went  through  the  good- 
liest cornfields  that  ever  were  seen  in  any  coun- 
try. When  we  came  to  Rappahanna  town,  he 
entertained  us  in  good  humanity.”* 

* For  a sketch  of  the  incidents  which  occurred  while  the 
settlers  were  seeking  a spot  adapted  to  their  purpose,  the 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  69 

Further  up  the  river,  on  the  8th  of  May,  they 
were  met  by  a large  body  of  Indians,  of  the 
tribe  of  Apamatica,  armed  “with  bows  and  ar- 
rows in  a most  warlike  manner,  with  the  swords 
at  their  backs  beset  with  sharp  stones  and  pieces 
of  iron,  able  to  cleave  a man  in  sunder but 
their  signs  of  peace  being  comprehended,  they 
were  not  molested. 

After  sailing  up  James  River  about  forty 
miles,  passing  “through  excellent  ground,  full  of 
flowers  of  divers  kindes  and  colors/'  they  took 
possession  of  a peninsula  on  the  northern  bank, 
which  was  fixed  upon  as  the  most  eligible  site 
for  their  projected  town,  and  in  honor  of  the 
king  it  was  called  Jamestown.  All  were  in  ec- 
stacies  with  the  surrounding  country,  and  at  first 
lavished  their  praises  upon  it  without  stint. — 
Smith  thought  that  “Heaven  and  earth  seemed 
never  to  have  agreed  better  to  frame  a place 
for  man's  commodious  and  delightful  habitation." 
The  water,  too,  came  in  for  its  equal  share  of 
admiration ; and  it  was  regarded  as  a matter  of 
no  small  consequence  to  their  chosen  locality 
“that  their  ship  could  be  in  six  fathoms  of  water, 
and  be  moored  to  the  trees  on  the  land.” 

world  is  indebted  to  “Mr.  George  Percy,  of  the  ancient 
family  of  the  Percies,  so  renowned  in  story,  and  brother  to 
the  earl  of  Northumberland.”  He  is  said  to  have  been  a 
gentleman  of  great  honor,  courage,  and  industry;  and 
seems  to  have  accompanied  the  expedition  merely  as  a 
volunteer,  bearing  “no  post  or  office  of  government,  which 
might  perhaps  have  proceeded  from  the  cloud  under  which 
his  brother  the  earl  then  lay  ” — he  being  imprisoned  in  the 
Towyer  on  a charge  of  treason. 


70 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


CHAPTER  VI. 

The  Council  sworn,  and  Smith  excluded — Wing-field  elected 
President — Magnanimity  of  Smith — Remarks  on  the  Posi- 
tion and  Character  of  the  Colonists — Busy  Scenes  of  clearing 
away  the  Forest,  devising  a Fort,  and  building  Habitations 
— Smith’s  Surveying  Expedition — Number  of  Tribes  ascer- 
tained— Courteous  Reception  by  Powhatan — Jamestown  at- 
tacked, and  the  Enemy  repulsed. 


The  next  business  in  order  was  the  swearing 
in  of  the  council  and  the  election  of  a president. 
Wingfield  was  chosen  to  preside,  and  “an  oration 
was  made,”  setting  forth  divers  reasons  why 
Smith  should  not  be  sworn  in  with  the  others. 
What  those  reasons  were,  is  not  now  satisfac- 
torily known;  but  it  was  probably  urged  that  he 
was  still  under  the  charges  which  had  been  pre- 
ferred against  him,  and  of  course  not  eligible  to 
a seat.  However  unjust  and  illegal  the  conduct 
of  the  majority  may  have  been,  Smith  seems  to 
have  acquiesced  in  their  proceedings;  which  in 
fact  afforded  him  an  excellent  opportunity  of 
exhibiting  his  superiority  over  those  who  wrere 
endeavoring  to  injure  him.  Instead  of  retali- 
ating upon  his  enemies,  or  withholding  that  effi- 
cient aid  which  he  was  so  capable  of  affording, 
he  unhesitatingly  put  forth  his  best  abilities  in 
the  service  of  the  colony. 

Of  the  auspices  under  which  the  colony 
commenced,  the  writer  once  heard  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Hale,  of  Worcester  give  a very  happy 
illustration,  while  urging  upon  his  hearers  the 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  71 

obligation  of  each  member  of  a community  to 
discharge  his  or  her  share  of  the  general  burdens. 
“Here  were  now  gathered/’  said  he,  “a  set  of 
colonists  amply  sufficient  for  what  they  had  to 
do.  Climate,  not  severe;  soil,  rich;  natives,  at 
the  outset,  not  unfriendly.  These  men  were 
sent  out  by  a company  who  bore  the  charge  of 
their  expedition.  They  had  two  things  to  do : 
First,  to  make  themselves  comfortable  in  their 
new  home ; second,  to  make  some  return  to  those 
who  sent  them  there. — Now,  of  that  body  only 
a small  minority  did  any  thing  at  ail.  The  rest 
had  to  eat;  but,  still,  they  would  not  till  the 
ground.  They  had  to  treat  with  the  Indians, 
but,  still,  they  would  not  go  to  see  them — they 
left  it  to  a small  minority  of  working-men  to 
care  for  these  things.  And  one  man,  the  cele- 
brated Captain  Smith,  did  care  for  them,  and  so 
saved  them  all.  He  put  heart  into  the  workers,  ^ 
and  showed  them  how  to  work;  he  dealt  with 
the  savages,  and  inspired  them  with  fear.  At 
the  risk  of  his  own  life,  he  made  the  treaties, 
and  obtained  the  stores  from  them  which  saved 
the  infant  colony.  He  was  foreman,  general, 
ambassador  and  governor-in-chief  of  the  farms 
and  of  the  buildings — and  they  compelled  him 
to  be.  Whenever  he  left  them,  they  left  work, 
quarreled,  and  starved.  When  he  came  back 
from  an  absence,  he  always  found  the  whole 
colony  at  swords’  points,  and  all  its  work  at  a 
stand ; and  so  he  saved  them — in  spite  of  them- 
selves, from  themselves — till,  overworked  and 
broken  down,  he  had  to  retire  to  England,  their 


72  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

old  home. — Now,  in  that  true  history,  we  say, 
without  hesitation,  that  those  shiftless  colonists 
were  false  traitors : they  were  false  to  themselves, 
and  false  to  the  company  who  sent  them ; espe- 
cially were  they  false  to  the  great  man  whose 
life  they  took  by  inches,  in  heaping  on  him  all 
this  varied  duty. — And  we  do  not  change  that 
judgment  even  if  it  appear  that  they  had  never 
made  a precise  contract  to  do  any  one  of  the 
things  which  he  did.  We  need  not  prove  that 
each  of  them  had  promised,  before  hand,  to 
render  the  precise  service  in  which  he  failed. 
The  law  of  strict  justice  says  ‘ He  has  taken  the 
stores  and  opportunities  which  the  company  pro- 
vided he  has  assumed  the  benefit  also  of  the  relief 
which  this  great  commander  has  afforded;  he  is 
bound,  then,  to  do  his  part  to  make  the  company  a 
recompense,  and  to  help  the  others  round  him  to 
live.  Else  is  he  false,  under  the  general  princi- 
ples of  justice,  to  the  company ; under  the  same 
principle  is  he  false  to  the  leader  whom  he  leaves 
alone  to  serve  him ; and  so,  under  the  same  prin- 
ciple, is  he  false  to  himself,” 

At  first,  it  being  a novelty  with  many  of  the 
settlers,  every  man  set  to  work,  and  contributed 
something  towards  accomplishing  the  purpose 
which  all  had  in  view.  Trees  were  felled,  the 
grounds  were  cleared,  and  materials  for  building 
were  obtained  by  slow  degrees.  A fort  was 
contrived  by  the  council,  but  it  was  nearly  value- 
less; for  Wingfield’s  ridiculous  obstinacy  would 
not  allow  it  to  be  palisadoed  or  mounted  with 
ordinance;  and  therefore  it  was  little  more  than 


r 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  73 

the  boughs  of  trees,  thrown  together  in  a semi- 
circular form.  Some  were  employed  in  making 
gardens  and  nets,  some  in  getting  clapboards  to 
relade  the  ships,  and  some  in  providing  other 
necessaries  and  conveniences. 

While  matters  were  thus  progressing  on  land, 
Smith  was  braving  dangers  and  difficulties  on  the 
water.  In  company  with  Newport  and  twelve 
men,  he  embarked  on  a voyage  of  survey  up  the 
James  River,  which  was  of  great  and  immediate 
importance.  He  ascertained  that  of  “ forty-three 
native  tribes,  dwelling  between  the  mountains 
and  the  sea,  about  thirty,  numbering  eight  thou- 
sand souls,  were  under  the  rule  of  a powerful 
chieftain,  named  Wahunsonacock,  but  whose 
customary  title  (derived,  like  that  of  a European 
grandee,  from  his  principal  residence)  was  Pow- 
hatan. The  names  of  Tuscaloosa,  Quigaltan- 
qui,  and  those  of  many  other  native  American 
chiefs,  identical  with  their  towns  or  principalities, 
indicate  the  prevalence  of  the  usage.  His  re- 
sidence of  Powhatan  was  at  the  Falls  of  James 
River,  at  the  site  of  the  present  city  of  Rich- 
mond, and  that  of  Werowocomoco  on  the  north 
side  of  York  River.  Ascending  the  first-named 
stream,  after  a voyage  of  six  days,  the  explorers 
came  to  the  Falls,  where  they  were  courteously 
received  by  the  great  chief  just  mentioned. 

On  returning  to  Jamestown,  Smith  and  his 
surveying  party  soon  learned  that  the  place  had 
been  unexpectedly  attacked  by  the  Indians,  who 
wounded  seventeen  men  and  killed  one  boy. — 
* People’s  Book  of  History. 


7 


74  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

During  the  struggle,  a cross-bar  shot  from  one 
of  the  ships  happened  to  strike  off  a large  bough 
from  a tree,  which  so  frightened  the  assailants, 
that  they  made  a precipitate  retreat.  But  for 
this  circumstance,  the  English  would  probably 
have  been  extirpated,  as  they  were  securely  at 
work,  and  their  arms  in  dry  vats.  After  this, 
the  president  permitted  the  fort  to  be  palisadoed, 
the  ordinance  to  be  mounted,  and  the  men  to 
be  armed  and  exercised;  Tor  many  and  sudden 
were  the  assaults  and  ambuscades  of  the  Indians; 
and  the  English,  by  their  disorderly  straggling, 
were  often  hurt,  while  they,  by  the  nimbleness 
of  their  heels,  escaped.” 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Smith  demands  a Trial : Honorable  Results — Newport  sails 
for  England — Scarcity  of  Provisions,  and  Sickness — Injus- 
tice of  Wing-field,  -who  is  deposed,  and  Ratcliffe  elected  in 
his  place — Smith’s  Diligrence  in  providing-  for  the  Settlers  : 
His  Explorations  and  Discoveries — Conspiracy  of  Wingfield 
and  Kendall  defeated — Encounter  with  Opechancanough — 
Exploits  and  Capture  of  Smith  : his  Remarkable  Adventures 
among  the  Savages  : their  Wonder  excited  by  his  Feats  of 
“Sorcery” — Jamestown  saved  through  his  Efforts — The 
Indian’s  Idea  of  Gunpowder — Powhatan  dooms  Smith  to 
Death — Pocahontas  saves  his  Life — Curious  Attempt  to 
Frighten  Smith  : his  Return  to  Jamestown. 

“Although  Captain  Newport  was  named  of 
the  council,  yet  was  he  only  hired  for  their 
transportation,  and  was  to  return  with  the  ships. 
The  time  of  his  departure  approaching,  Captain 
Smith’s  enemies  pretended,  out  of  tenderness 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  75 

and  compassion  to  him,  to  refer  him  to  the 
council  in  England,  to  receive  a reprimand, 
rather  than  by  pushing  on  their  accusation,  to 
endanger  his  life,  or  utterly  destroy  his  reputation. 
But  he,  being  a man  of  high  spirit,  and  conscious 
of  his  innocence,  scorned  their  charity  and  de- 
fied their  malice;  and  behaved  himself  in  the 
whole  affair  with  such  clearness  and  prudence, 
that  all  the  company  perceived  his  integrity,  and 
their  envy  and  injustice.  Insisting  therefore 
upon  his  trial,  the  persons  suborned  to  accuse 
him,  accused  their  suborners;  and  although 
many  falsehoods  were  alleged  against  him,  yet 
were  they  all  so  plainly  disproved,  that  it  raised 
a general  resentment  in  the  hearts  of  the  audi- 
ence against  such  unjust  commanders,  and  the 
president  was  condemned  to  pay  him  two  hun- 
dred pounds,  in  reparation  of  the  injury.  In 
consequence  hereof,  all  the  president’s  effects 
were  seized  in  part  of  satisfaction;  but  Smith 
generously  presented  them  to  the  public  store 
for  the  use  of  the  colony.  Soon  after,  their 
heats  and  animosities  were  appeased  by  the  good 
doctrine  and  exhortations  of  Mr.  Hunt,  who 
procured  Captain  Smith  to  be  admitted  of  the 
council;  and  the  next  day,  they  all  received  the 
communion,  in  confirmation  of  their  peace  and 
concord.  The  day  after,  being  the  15th  of  June, 
1607,  the  Indians  voluntarily  sued  for  peace,  and 
Captain  Newport  set  sail  for  England,  leaving 
an  hundred  persons  behind  him  in  Virginia. 

“The  colony  being  now  left  to  their  fortunes, 
fell  into  such  a violent  sickness,  that  within  ten 


76  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

days  scarce  ten  among  them  could  either  go  or 
stand.  This  was  chiefly  owing  to  the  difference 
of  their  diet.  For  whilst  the  ships  staid,  either 
by  way  of  traffic,  or  for  money,  or  love,  they  got 
a daily  proportion  of  biscuit  and  other  provisions 
from  the  sailors,  who  always  abounded  even  to 
luxury  and  profusion.  But  now  they  were  all 
reduced  to  the  common  kettle;  which  contained 
the  allowance  of  half  a pint  of  wheat,  and  as 
much  barley,  boiled  with  water,  for  a man  a day. 
And  this,  having  funked  for  six  and  twenty 
weeks  in  the  ship’s  hold,  contained  nothing  sub- 
stantial, being  only  bran,  with  as  many  worms 
as  grains.  The  council  in  England,  but  espe- 
cially Sir  Thomas  Smith,  their  treasurer,  were 
justly  charged  with  much  cruelty  and  inhumanity 
for  these  scanty  and  ill-conditioned  provisions; 
which  management,  however,  continued,  more 
or  less,  the  whole  time  of  that  gentleman’s  ad- 
ministration of  the  affairs  of  the  company  and 
colony.  This  unwholesome  food,  together  with 
their  continual  toil  and  labor  in  the  extremity  of 
the  heat,  carried  off*  fifty  of  the  company  by 
September;  in  which  number  was  Captain  Gos- 
nold,  the  first  mover  and  projector  of  the  whole 
business.  The  rest  that  survived  by  the  care 
of  Captain  Smith,  and  the  skill  and  diligence  of 
Mr.  Thomas  Wotton,  their  surgeon-general, 
subsisted  on  crabs  and  sturgeon  till  September. 

“But  the  president,  all  this  while,  had  felt  nei- 
ther want  nor  sickness.  For  he  had  embezzled 
the  public  oatmeal,  sack,  aquae  vitae,  beef,  and 
eggs,  and  had  lived  in  great  plenty  and  elegance. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


77 


Soon  after,  having  projected  an  escape  to  Eng- 
land in  the  bark,  it  raised  such  indignation  in 
the  rest,  that  they  deposed  him,  and  elected 
Captain  John  Ratcliffe  in  his  room.  Kendall 
was  likewise  at  the  same  time  disgraced,  and  re- 
moved from  the  council,  for  being  concerned  in 
these  male-practices  of  the  president.  And  now, 
when  all  their  provisions  were  spent,  the  sturgeon 
gone,  and  no  prospect  of  relief  from  any  quarter 
left,  God  wrought  so  wonderful  a change  in  the 
hearts  of  the  Indians,  that  they  brought  such 
plenty  of  their  fruits  and  provisions,  as  no  man 
wanted. 

“ Newport  was  gone,  Gosnold  dead,  and  Wing- 
field and  Kendall  in  disgrace ; neither  were  their 
places  supplied  by  the  election  of  any  others, 
according  to  the  authority  given.  So  that  the 
whole  government  and  power  of  the  council  now 
rested  in  the  new  president,  Martin,  and  Smith. 
But  the  president  and  Martin,  being  little  es- 
teemed or  beloved,  of  weak  judgment  in  dangers, 
and  less  industry  in  peace,  at  first  very  candidly 
and  wisely  permitted  every  thing  to  Smith’s 
management,  who  was  peculiarly  fitted  for  con- 
ducting such  an  enterprise,  by  a good  judgment, 
undaunted  courage,  and  an  invincible  industry 
and  resolution.  He  immediately  set  about  the 
building  of  Jamestown;  and  by  good  words,  fair 
promises,  and  his  own  example  (himself  always 
bearing  the  greatest  share  of  the  labor  and  fa- 
tigue) he  pusned  on  the  work  with  such  vigor 
and  diligence,  that  he  had,  in  a short  time,  pro- 
vided most  of  them  with  lodgings,  neglecting 


78  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

any  for  himself.  After  which,  finding  the  Au- 
tumn superfluity  of  the  savages  begin  to  decrease, 
he  resolved  to  search  the  country  for  trade. 
The  want  of  the  language  and  a sufficient  pow’e^, 
with  clothing  for  his  men  and  other  necessaries, 
were  infinite  impediments  to  this  design,  but  no 
discouragement  to  his  bold  and  adventurous 
spirit.  For  with  five  or  six  more,  he  went  dowrn 
the  river  in  a shallop,  to  Kicquotan ; where  at 
first  they  scorned  them,  as  poor  famished  crea- 
tures, and  would  offer,  in  derision,  a handful  of 
corn,  or  a piece  of  bread,  for  their  swords,  mus- 
kets, or  clothes.  But  Smith,  finding  that  nothing 
w'as  to  be  had  by  trade  and  courtesy,  ventured 
to  exceed  his  commission,  and  entered  upon  such 
measures  as  necessity  and  the  exigency  of  his 
case  required.  And  therefore,  having  discharged 
his  muskets  among  them,  he  ran  his  boat  ashore ; 
at  which  the  Indians  all  fled  into  the  woods. 
Then  marching  up  to  their  houses,  they  saw 
great  heaps  of  corn.  But  Smith  with  much  ado 
restrained  his  hungry  soldiers  from  immediately 
seizing  it ; expecting  the  savages  would  return 
to  assault  them,  as  it  soon  after  happened.  For 
sixty  or  seventy  of  them,  some  painted  black, 
some  red,  some  white,  and  some  party-colored, 
issued  out  of  the  woods,  singing  and  dancing, 
and  making  a most  hideous  noise,  with  their 
Okee  borne  before  them.  This  was  an  idol  made 
of  skins,  stuffed  with  moss,  and  all  painted  and 
hung  with  chains  and  copper.  For  there  was 
no  place  in  Virginia  found  so  barbarous  and  void 
of  humanity,  in  which  they  had  not  a religion, 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  79 

deer,  bows,  and  arrows.  In  this  savage  manner, 
being  armed  with  clubs,  targets,  bows,  and  ar- 
rows, they  charged  the  English,  who  received 
them  so  warmly  with  a second  volley  of  muskets, 
loaded  with  pistol  shot,  that  down  fell  their  god, 
and  several  of  them  lay  sprawling  on  the  ground. 
The  rest  fled  again  into  the  woods,  and  soon 
after  sent  one  of  their  priests  to  redeem  their 
god  and  offer  peace.  Smith  told  him,  if  only  six 
would  come  unarmed,  and  load  his  boat  with 
corn,  he  would  not  only  restore  their  Okee,  but 
would  be  their  friend,  and  give  them  beads,  cop- 
per, and  hatchets  besides;  which  was  agreed 
to,  and  performed  to  the  satisfaction  of  both 
parties.  And  then  they  brought  him  venison, 
turkies,  wild  fowl,  bread,  and  whatever  else 
they  had,  singing  and  dancing  in  sign  of  friend- 
ship, till  he  departed.  And  on  his  return  up  the 
river,  he  discovered  the  town  and  country  of 
Warrasqueake. 

“ After  his  return  to  Jamestown,  he  made 
several  journies  by  land,  and  discovered  the 
people  of  Chickahominy.  In  one  of  these,  Wing- 
field and  Kendall,  seeing  all  things  at  random  in 
Smith’s  absence,  and  the  company’s  scorn  of  the 
president’s  weakness  and  Martin’s  never-mend- 
ing sickness,  took  advantage  of  the  occasion, 
and  combined  with  the  sailors  and  others  to  re- 
gain their  former  authority,  or  at  least  to  seize 
the  bark  which  Smith  had  fitted  for  a trading 
voyage,  and  in  her  to  escape  and  go  for  England. 
But  Smith  returning  unexpectedly,  with  much 
difficulty  prevented  their  design.  For  he  was 


80  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

obliged  to  turn  the  cannon  of  the  fort  upon  them, 
and  so  force  them  to  stay  or  sink  in  the  river; 
which  action  cost  the  life  of  Captain  Kendall. 
And  not  long  after  their  new  president,  Ratclilfe, 
and  Captain  Gabriel  Archer  intended  to  aban- 
don the  country;  but  their  project  was  likewise 
restrained  and  suppressed  by  Smith.  The  Span- 
iards were  never  more  greedy  of  gold,  than  he 
was  of  provisions;  neither  did  the  rest  desire 
more  eagerly  to  abandon  the  country,  than  he  to 
keep  it.  And  therefore,  having  found  plenty  of 
corn  up  the  River  Chickahominy,  he  went  a 
trading  voyage  thither,  and  was  received  by 
hundreds  of  Indians,  who  stood  in  divers  places 
with  baskets,  expecting  his  coming.  And  now 
the  winter  likewise  coming  on,  the  rivers  were 
so  covered  with  swans,  geese,  and  ducks,  that 
they  daily  feasted  with  good  bread,  Virginia 
pease,  pumpions,  and  passimmons,  and  with  fish, 
fowl,  and  divers  sorts  of  wild  beasts,  as  fat  as 
they  could  well  eat  them.  So  that  none  of  their 
humoursome  and  tuftaffety  sparks  (as  Smith 
calls  them)  were  any  longer  discontented,  or 
desirous  to  go  to  England. 

“But  Captain  Smith’s  activity  and  industry, 
in  discovering  the  country,  and  providing  for 
the  colony,  could  not  screen  him  from  the  vain 
exceptions  and  murmurs  of  many  idlers  at  James- 
town. He  was  censured  by  some,  and  even 
taxed  by  the  council,  of  being  too  remiss  and 
negligent  in  discovering  the  head  of  Chickahom- 
iny river.  And  therefore  soon  after,  with  much 
labor  in  cutting  away  trees  and  clearing  a pass- 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


81 


age,  he  went  up  as  far  as  his  barge  could  pass; 
and  then  leaving  her  in  a broad  bay,  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  Indians'  shot,  he  himself,  with 
two  English  more,  and  two  Indians,  proceeded 
higher  up  in  a canoe.  When  he  left  the  barge, 
he  ordered  that  none  should  go  ashore  till  his 
return.  But  he  was  not  long  gone,  before  his 
disorderly  and  ungovernable  crew  disobeyed  this 
command,  and  thereby  gave  the  Indians  an  op- 
portunity of  surprising  one  George  Cassen;  and 
indeed  narrowly  escaped  being  all  cut  off  to  a 
man.  For  Opechancanough^  brother  to  Pow- 
hatan, and  king  of  Pamunkey,  a subtle  and  sav- 
age barbarian,  was  there  with  three  hundred 
bowmen.  And  after  having  extorted  from  Cas- 
sen which  way  his  captain  was  gone,  he  put  him 
to  death  in  a most  cruel  and  barbarous  manner, 
and  then  went  in  pursuit  of  Smith. 

“Captain  Smith  had  got  up  twenty  miles 
higher,  among  the  swamps  and  marshes  at  the 
head  of  the  river;  and  leaving  the  canoe  to  the 
care  of  Robinson  and  Emry,  his  two  men,  he 
himself  was  gone  to  kill  some  provisions.  Ope- 
chancanough  first  happened  on  the  two  men, 
asleep,  as  it  was  supposed,  by  the  fire;  and 
shooting  them  full  of  arrows,  slew  them.  And 
then  they  traced  the  captain;  who,  finding  him- 
self beset,  bound  an  Indian,  whom  he  had  for 
his  guide,  to  his  arm  for  a buckler,  and  received 
their  attack  so  smartly  with  his  fire-arms,  that 
he  soon  laid  three  dead  upon  the  spot,  and  so 
wounded  and  galled  divers  others,  that  none  of 
them  cared  to  approach  him.  He  himself  re- 


82  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

ceived  a slight  wound  in  the  thigh,  and  had 
many  arrows  sticking  in  his  clothes,  but  without 
any  great  hurt.  Having  the  Indians  thus  at  bay, 
he  endeavored  to  sheer  off  to  his  canoe;  but  re- 
garding them,  as  he  went,  more  than  his  way,  he 
suddenly  slipped  up  to  his  middle  into  an  oozy 
creek.  Although  he  was  thus  hampered,  yet 
none  of  them  durst  come  near  him,  till,  being  al- 
most dead  with  cold,  he  threw  away  his  arms 
and  surrendered.  Then  drawing  him  out,  they  * 
carried  him  to  the  fire  where  his  men  were  slain, 
and  carefully  chafed  his  benumbed  limbs.  For 
this  winter,  1007,  was  extremely  cold  in  Virginia, 
as  it  was  likewise  remarkable  for  an  extraordi- 
nary frost  in  Europe. 

44  When  Smith  was  a little  recovered,  he  asked 
for  their  captain,  and  being  shown  Opechan- 
canough,  he  presented  him  with  a round  ivory 
double  compass  dial.  They  wondered  greatly 
at  the  playing  of  the  fly  and  needle,  which  they 
could  see  so  plainly,  and  yet  not  touch,  because 
of  the  glass  that  covered  them.  But  when  he 
explained  by  it  the  roundness  of  the  earth,  the 
skies,  the  sphere  of  the  sun,  moon,  and  stars, 
with  other  surprising  and  unheard-of  doctrines 
to  them,  they  all  stood  amazed.  Yet  within  an 
hour  after,  they  tied  him  to  a tree,  and  drew  up 
in  order  to  shoot  him.  But  the  king  holding  up 
the  compass  in  his  hand,  they  all  laid  down  their 
arms  at  once.  And  then,  with  much  triumph, 
and  in  martial  order,  they  conducted  him  to 
Orapakes,  which  was  a hunting  town  and  seat, 
lying  on  the  upper  part  of  Chickahominy  swamp, 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  83 

on  the  north  side,  belonging  to,  and  much  fre- 
quented by,  Powhatan  and  the  imperial  family, 
on  account  of  the  abundance  of  game  it  afforded. 
In  their  march,  they  drew  themselves  all  up  in 
file;  and  Opechancanough  being  in  the  midst, 
had  the  English  swords  and  muskets  carried  be- 
fore him.  Captain  Smith  came  next,  led  by 
three  great  savages,  holding  him  fast  by  each 
arm ; and  on  either  side  went  six  in  file,  with 
their  arrows  notched.  When  they  arrived  at 
the  town,  the  women  and  children  stood  staring 
at  a human  creature,  so  unlike  whatever  they 
had  before  seen;  and  the  soldiers  that  had  taken 
him,  performed  their  military  exercise,  throwing 
themselves  with  great  dexterity  into  their  war- 
dance,  with  strange  distortions  and  antic  pos- 
tures, singing  and  yelling  out  frightful  and  in- 
harmonious notes  and  screeches.  But  they 
treated  Smith  here  very  kindly,  and  feasted  him 
with  that  formality  and  abundance,  that  he  sus- 
pected they  intended  to  fatten  and  to  eat  him. 
In  the  midst  of  these  melancholy  thoughts  and 
surmises,  one  of  them,  in  return  for  some  beads 
and  toys,  which  Smith  had  given  him  at  his  first 
arrival,  brought  him  his  gown;  which  was  of 
singular  service  to  him,  and  a very  seasonable 
defence  against  the  excessive  coldness  of  the 
season. 

“ But  whilst  his  mind  was  thus  taken  up  w7 ith 
imaginary  deaths,  he  had  like  to  have  met  a real 
one.  For  a man  came  violently  upon  him,  and 
would  have  slain  him  for  the  death  of  his  son, 
had  he  not  been  prevented  by  his  guard. 


84 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


Whether  this  was  one  of  those  that  were 
wounded  when  Smith  was  taken  prisoner,  or 
whether  he  was  dying  a natural  death,  which 
they,  through  ignorance  and  superstition,  attrib- 
uted to  some  sorcery  in  Smith,  is  not  easy  to  be 
determined.  However,  they  carried  him  to  re- 
cover the  poor  man,  breathing  out  his  last. 
Smith  told  them  he  had  a water  at  Jamestown 
that  would  do  it,  if  they  would  let  him  fetch  it. 
But  they  had  more  sense  than  to  permit  that,  or 
to  trust  him  out  of  their  hands. 

“ They  were  now  making  the  greatest  prepar- 
ations they  could  to  assault  Jamestown.  To 
this  end  they  desired  Smith’s  advice  and  assist- 
ance; and,  as  a reward,  promised  him  life,  liberty, 
land,  and  women.  But  be  represented  to  them 
the  extreme  danger  and  difficulty  of  the  attempt; 
and  described  the  springing  of  mines,  great  guns, 
and  other  warlike  engines,  in  such  a manner,  as 
exceedingly  frightened  and  amazed  them.  And 
then  he  persuaded  some  of  them  to  go  to  James- 
town, under  pretence  of  fetching  some  toys; 
and  in  part  of  a table-book,  he  informed  them  at 
the  fort  what  was  intended,  and  directed  them 
how  to  behave  and  affright  the  messengers^  and 
without  fail  to  send  him  such  things  as  he  wrote 
for.  Within  three  days,  the  messengers  returned, 
through  as  bitter  weather  as  could  be,  for  frost 
and  snow;  and  were  greatly  astonished  them- 
selves, as  well  as  all  that  heard  it,  how  Smith 
could  divine,  or  the  paper  speak.  For  all  things 
wTere  delivered  them,  and  had  happened  at  James- 
town, according  as  he  foretold. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


85 


“All  thoughts  of  an  attack  upon  Jamestown 
being  therefore  laid  aside,  they  led  Smith  in  show  ! 
and  triumph  about  the  country.  And  first  they 
carried  him  to  those  that  dwelt  on  Youghtanund, 
or,  as  it  is  now  called,  Pamunkey  river.  For  the 
main  river,  which  is  since  named  York  river, 
was  then  called  Pamunkey;  although  the  coun- 
try of  Pamunkey,  over  which  Opechancanough 
was  king,  lay  in  the  fork  of  the  river,  and  his 
chief  seat  was  nearly  where  the  Pamunkey  town 
now  is.  From  the  Youghtanunds  they  led  him 
to  the  Mattaponies,  the  Piankatanks,  the  Nan- 
taughtacunds,  on  Rappahanock,  and  the  Nomi- 
nies,  on  Patowmack  river.  And  having  passed 
him  over  all  those  rivers,  they  brought  him  back, 
through  several  other  nations,  to  Opechancan- 
ough’s  habitation  at  Pamunkey;  where,  with 
frightful  howlings,  and  many  strange  and  hellish 
ceremonies,  they  conjured  him  three  days,  to 
know,  as  they  told  him,  whether  he  intended 
them  well  or  ill.  After  this,  they  brought  him  a 
bag  of  gunpowder,  which  they  judged  to  be  a 
grain,  springing  out  of  the  earth  as  other  grains 
did;  and  therefore  they  carefully  preserved  it, 
intending  to  plant  it  the  next  spring,  as  they  did 
their  corn.  And  then  he  was  invited,  and  feasted 
in  a sumptuous  manner,  by  Opitchapan,  second 
brother  to  Powhatan,  and  next  heir  to  all  his 
dominions.  But  here,  as  in  all  other  places,  none 
of  them  would  touch  a morsel  with  him  ; although 
they  would  feast  very  merrily  upon  what  he  left. 

At  last  they  conducted  him  to  Werowocomoco, 
where  Powhatan  the  emperor  was.  He  lived  in 
8 


86 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


great  barbaric  state  and  magnificence,  and 
; usually  had  about  his  person  forty  or  fifty  of  the 
| tallest  men  his  country  afforded;  which  guard 
I was,  after  this  time,  increased  to  two  hundred, 
on  account  of -the  English.  Every  night,  upon 
• the  four  corners  of  his  house  were  placed 
I four  sentinels,  each  a slight  shot  from  the  other ; 
j and  every  half  hour,  one  from  the  main  guard 
| hollowed,  shaking  his  finger  between  his  lips, 
j and  every  sentinel  was  obliged  to  answer  from 
his  stand.  If  any  failed,  an  officer  was  immedi- 
ately sent,  who  beat  him  extremely.  At  all  his 
ancient  inheritances,  he  had  houses,  some  of 
them  thirty  or  forty  yards  long;  and  at  every 
house,  provision  for  his  entertainment,  according 
to  the  season.  He  kept  as  many  women  as  he 
pleased;  and  when  he  laid  down,  one  sat  at  his 
head,  and  another  at  his  feet;  but  when  he  was 
| up,  one  sat  on  his  right  hand,  and  another  on  his 
left;  and  as  he  was  weary  of  them,  he  bestowed 
them  on  such  of  his  servants  as  had  most  pleased 
him,  or  best  deserved  them  at  his  hands. 

“ Although  both  himself  and  people  were  very 
•.  barbarous,  and  void  of  all  letters  and  civility, 

| yet  was  there  such  a government  among  them, 
that  the  magistrates  for  good  command,  and  the 
j people  for  due  subjection,  excelled  many  places 
that  would  be  counted  very  civil.  He  had  un- 
der him  above  thirty  inferior  kings  or  wero- 
wances,  who  had  power  of  life  and  death,  but 
were  bound  to  govern  according  to  the  customs 
of  their  country.  However,  his  will  was,  in  all 
cases,  their  supreme  law,  and  must  be  obeyed. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  87 

They  all  knew  their  several  lands,  habitations, 
and  limits  to  fish,  fowl,  or  hunt  in.  But  they 
held  all  of  their  great  werowance  [chief  or  king] 
Powhatan;  to  whom  they  paid  tribute  of  skins, 
beads,  copper,  pearl,  deer,  turkies,  wild  beasts, 
• and  corn.  All  his  subjects  reverenced  him,  not 
only  as  a king,  but  as  half  a god;  and  it  was 
curious  to  behold  with  what  fear  and  adoration 
they  obeyed  him;  for  at  his  feet  they  presented 
whatever  he  commanded;  and  a frown  of  his 
brow  would  make  their  greatest  spirits  tremble; 
and  indeed  it  was  no  wonder;  for  he  was  very 
terrible  and  tyrannous  in  punishing  such  as  of- 
fended him,  with  variety  of  cruelty  and  the  most 
exquisite  torture. 

‘'When  Smith  was  presented  to  him,  he  was 
about  sixty  years  of  age,  something  hoary,  and 
of  a savage  majesty  and  grandeur.  He  sat  be- 
fore a fire  upon  a wooden  throne,  like  a bedstead, 
clothed  with  a great  robe  of  racoon  skins,  and 
with  a coronet  of  feathers  about  his  head.  On 
either  hand,  sat  a young  wench,  of  about  sixteen 
or  eighteen  years  of  age;  and  along  each  side  of 
the  house,  a row  of  men,  and  behind  them  as 
many  women,  painted  and  adorned  in  their  best 
manner.  When  Smith  entered,  all  the  people 
gave  a shout;  and  the  queen  of  Appamattox 
was  appointed  to  bring  him  water  to  wash  his 
hands,  and  another  brought  a bunch  of  feathers, 
instead  of  a towel,  to  dry  them.  After  that, 
having  feasted  him  in  their  best  manner,  a long 
consultation  was  held;  at  the  conclusion  of 
which,  two  great  stones  were  brought  before 


88 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


Powhatan,  and  Smith  was  dragged  to  them,  and 
his  head  laid  thereon,  in  order  to  have  his  brains 
beat  out  with  clubs;  but  Pocahontas,  the  king’s 
darling  daughter,  when  no  entreaty  could  pre- 
vail, got  his  head  into  her  arms,  and  laid  her 
own  upon  it  to  save  his  life.  Whereupon  Pow- 
hatan was  persuaded  to  let  him  live,  to  make 
himself  hatchets,  and  her  bells,  beads,  and  cop-  | 
per;  for  the  king  himself  would  make  his  own 
robes,  shoes,  bows,  arrows,  and  pots ; and  would 
hunt,  plant,  and  do  every  thing  else  like  the  rest; 
and  therefore  they  thought  him  of  all  occupations, 
as  well  as  themselves;  and  besides  this  surprising 
tenderness  and  affection  of  Pocahontas,  who 
was  at  that  time  about  twelve  or  thirteen  years 
of  age,  Captain  Smith  received  many  services 
from  Nantaquaus,  the  emperor’s  son.  He  was 
a youth  of  the  comeliest  and  most  manly  person, 
and  of  the  highest  spirit  and  courage,  of  any  in 
the  court  of  Powhatan;  and  he  embraced  Smith’s 
interest  with  much  warmth  and  heartiness,  and 
did  him  many  acts  of  friendship  and  kindness.  ; 

“Two  days  after,  Powhatan  having  disguised 
himself  in  the  most  frightful  manner  he  could, 
caused  Captain  Smith  to  be  carried  to  a great 
house  in  the  woods,  and  there  to  be  left  alone 
on  a mat  by  the  fire.  Not  long  after,  from  be- 
hind a mat,  which  divided  the  house,  was  made 
the  most  doleful  noise  he  had  ever  heard;  and 
then  Powhatan,  with  about  two  hundred  more, 
as  frightful  as  himself,  came  to  him  and  told  him 
they  were  now  friends,  and  he  should  immediately 
go  to  Jamestown,  to  send  him  two  great  guns 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  89 

and  a grindstone ; for  which  he  would  give  him 
the  country  of  Capahowsick,  and  ever  after  es- 
teem him*  as  his  son  jNantaquaus.  Captain 
Smith  put  little  confidence  in  his  words,  and  ex- 
pected every  minute,  even  till  he  got  to  James- 
town, to  be  put  to  one  kind  of  death  or  other; 
but  Powhatan  sent  him  off  immediately,  with 
twelve  guides;  and  having  lodged  that  night  in 
the  woods,  he  arrived  the  next  morning  early  at 
the  fort.”*  - 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Smith’s  Artifice — Another  Revolt — Trade  with  the  Indians — , ; 
Arrival  of  Newport — Nelson’s  Escape  from  Shipwreck — ; 

Envy  and  Improvidence  of  Newport  and  his  Company — 

• Presents  to  Powhatan:  his  Cunning  Device  for  Trading:  j 

Circumvented  by  Smith’s  Blue  Beads — Successful  Trade  ! 
with  Opechancanough — Destructive  Conflagration  at  James- 
town— Mismanagement  of  Supplies — “ Sect  of  Guld-finders  ” 

— Wingfield  and  Archer  sent  to  England — Arrival  of  Nelson 
— Insolence  of  the  Indians  punished. 

The  seven  w^eeks  of  captivity  which  Smith 
had  passed  among  the  savages,  although  of  course 
irksome  at  the  time,  were  of  great  ultimate  ad- 
vantage, both  to  himself  and  to  the  colony,  ena- 
bling him  to  gain  a knowledge  of  the  country 
and  of  the  Indian  dialect,  which  were  very  use- 
ful in  subsequent  transactions.  After  safely 
reaching  Jamestown,  “he  used  his  guides  with 
the  utmost  kindness;  and  showed  Rawhunt, 

* Stith's  History  of  Virginia. 

8* 


90  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

Powhatan’s  trusty  servant,  two  demi-culverins 
and  a mill-stone  to  carry  to  their  master.  Their 
weight  was  sufficient  to  deter  them  from  the 
attempt;  but  when  they  saw  him  discharge  them, 
loaded  with  stones,  among  the  boughs  of  a great 
tree  hung  with  icicles,  the  terror  of  the  report, 
and  the  rattling  of  the  boughs  and  ice,  so  frighted 
the  poor  savages,  that  they  ran  away,  half  dead 
with  fear;  but  having  regained  some  conference 
with  them,  he  gave  them  such  toys  for  them- 
selves, and  sent  Powhatan,  his  women,  and  chil- 
dren, such  presents  as  gave  a general  satisfaction. 

“At  Jamestown  every  thing  was  in  confusion, 
and  the  strongest  were  preparing  once  more  to 
run  away  with  the  bark;  but  Smith,  with  the 
hazard  of  his  life,  forced  her  the  third  time,  to 
stay  or  sink  in  the  river;  and  the  next  day  sev- 
eral combined  with  the  president  to  put  him  to 
death  by  the  Levitical  law,  for  the  lives  of 
Robinson  and  Emry,  whom,  they  said,  he  had 
led  to  their  end,  and  was  consequently  the  au- 
thor of  their  death.  But  he  quickly  took  such 
order  with  those  lawyers,  that  he  ‘laid  them  by 
the  heels,’  till  he  sent  some  of  them  prisoners  to 
England.  And  then,  by  his  relation  of  the 
plenty  he  had  seen  among  the  natives,  especially 
at  Werowocomoco,  and  of  the  state  and  bounty 
of  Powhatan,  till  then  unknown,  he  very  much 
appeased  their  fears,  and  revived  their  dead 
spirits;  and  Pocahontas,  with  her  attendants, 
every  once  in  four  or  five  days,  brought  him  so 
much  provision,  as  saved  the  lives  of  many,  who 
must  otherwise  have  perished  with  hunger. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  91 

Several  others  also  of  the  natives  repaired  daily 
to  the  fort,  with  such  provisions  as  sufficiently- 
served  them  from  hand  to  mouth.  Part  they 
always  brought  Smith,  as  presents  from  then- 
kings  or  Pocahontas;  and  he,  as  their  market- 
clerk,  set  the  price  upon  the  rest.  So  much  had 
he  astonished  and  enchanted  those  poor  souls, 
whilst  their  prisoner,  that  they  esteemed  him  as 
a demi-god,  and  were  ready,  at  his  beck,  to  do 
whatever  he  commanded;  and  the  God  who 
created  all  things,  they  knew,  he  adored  as  his 
God,  and  would,  in  their  discourse,  call  him  the 
God  of  Captain  Smith. 

“And  this  their  high  opinion  was  much  in- 
creased by  the  arrival  of  Captain  Newport, 
whom  Smith,  among  them,  called  his  father, 
nearly  about  the  time  that  he  had  foretold ; for 
the  treasurer  and  council  in  England  sent  two 
ships  the  latter  end  of  this  year,  with  a supply 
of  provisions  and  an  hundred  and  twenty  men. 
These  came  well  furnished  with  all  things  that 
could  be  imagined  necessary,  as  Captain  Smith 
tells  us;  but,  however,  we' must  always  make 
some  allowance  in  his  account  of  these  things; 
for  he  was  a very  great  friend  to  Sir  Thomas 
Smith;  and  we  shall  see  hereafter,  from  several 
authentic  papers,  but  especially  from  a repre- 
sentation of  our  general  assembly,  among  the 
records  in  the  capitol,  that  that  officer  was  most 
scandalously  negligent,  if  not  corrupt,  particu- 
larly in  this  matter  of  supplies.  One  of  these 
ships  was  commanded  by  Captain  Newport,  the 
other  by  Captain  Francis  Nelson,  an  honest  man 


92 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


and  expert  mariner;  but  such  was  the  leward- 
ness  of  his  ship,  that  although  he  was  within 
sight  of  Cape  Henry,  yet  by  contrary  winds  and 
stormy  weather,  he  was  driven  off  the  coast,  and 
forced  to  the  West  Indies,  to  repair  his  masts, 
and  to  get  a recruit  of  wood  and  water;  but  be- 
fore this,  the  president  and  council  so  much  en- 
vied Smith’s  esteem  among  the  natives,  although 
they  all  equally  participated  of  the  good  effects 
of  it,  that  to  raise  their  credit  and  authority 
above  his,  they  would  give  them  four  times  as 
much  for  their  commodities  as  he  had  appointed; 
And  now,  out  of  joy  for  the  arrival  of  this  first 
supply,  and  to  gratify  the  mariners,  they  gave 
them  free  liberty  to  trade  as  they  pleased.  So 
that  in  a short  time,  what  was  before  bought  for 
an  ounce  of  copper,  could  not  be  had  for  a pound. 
To  which  Captain  Newport’s  profuse  presents  to 
Powhatan  were  added,  and  gave  the  finishing 
blow  to  their  trade.  They  served  indeed  to  en- 
tertain and  keep  up  the  high  idea  of  Newport’s 
greatness  which  Smith  had  raised  in  Powhatan, 
and  made  him  very  desirous  to  see  him.  . 

“Accordingly  the  bark  was  prepared,  and  a 
great  coil  there  was  at  Jamestown  to  set  him 
off.  Captain  Smith  and  Mr.  Mathew  Scrivener, 
a discreet  and  understanding  gentleman,  newly 
arrived  and  admitted  of  the  council,  attended 
him  with  a guard  of  thirty  or  forty  chosen  men. 
When  they  came  to  Werowocomoco,  Newport 
began  to  entertain  many  fears  and  suspicions  of 
treachery;  but  Smith,  with  twenty  men,  under- 
took to  encounter  the  worst  that  could  happen; 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  93 

and  going  ashore,  was  kindly  conducted  by  two 
or  three  hundred  Indians  to  the  town.  Powhatan 
strained  himself  upon  this  occasion,  to  the  ut- 
most of  his  greatness  to  entertain  them,  with 
great  shouts  of  joy,  orations,  and  protestations, 
and  with  the  most  sumptuous  and  plentiful  ban- 
quet he  could  provide.  He  sat  on  a bed  of  mats, 
with  a pillow  of  leather  embroidered  with  pearl 
and  white  beads;  and  was  clothed  in  a robe  of 
skins,  as  large  as  an  Irish  mantle.  At  his  head 
and  feet  sat  a handsome  young  woman;  and  on 
each  side  the  house,  twenty  of  his  concubines, 
with  their  heads  and  shoulders  painted  red,  and 
a great  chain  of  white  beads  about  each  of  their 
necks.  Before  them  sat  his  chief  men  in  the 
like  order;'  and  above  forty  platters  of  fine  bread 
stood  in  two  files  on  each  side  of  the  door.  Four 
or  five  hundred  people  attended  as  a guard;  and 
proclamation  was  made,  that  none,  upon  pain  of 
death,  should  presume  to  do  the  English  any 
wrong  or  discourtesy;  and  thus  did  Smith  and 
he  spend  the  day,  in  a kind  renewal  of  their 
former  acquaintance,  and  in  feasting  and  seeing 
them  dance  and  sing,  and  play  their  other  feats 
of  humor  and  activity;  and  that  night,  the 
English  were  quartered  and  lodged  by  Powhatan. 

“The  next  morning,  Newport  came  ashore, 
and  they  spent  three  or  four  days  more  in  feast- 
ing, and  dancing,  and  trading.  In  all  which 
time,  Powhatan  behaved  himself  with  such  lofti- 
ness and  state,  and  yet  with  so  much  discretion, 
that  they  could  not  forbear  admiring  his  natural 
parts*  and  understanding.  Scorning  to  trade  as 


94  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

his  subjects  did,  he  told  Newport  that  he  es- 
teemed him  a great  werowance,  as  well  as  him- 
self; that  it  was  not  agreeable  to  their  dignity  to 
trade  in  that  pedling  manner  for  trifles;  and  that, 
therefore,  if  he  would  lay  down  all  his  commod- 
ities together,  he  would  choose  what  he  liked,  and 
give  him  their  value.  Smith,  who  was  their  in- 
terpreter, and  knew  Powhatan’s  disposition,  told 
the  company  his  intent  was  only  to  cheat  them ; 
but  Newport,  thinking  to  out-brave  this  stately 
barbarian  in  ostentation  and  greatness,  and  by 
his  bounty  to  obtain  from  him  whatever  he 
pleased,  accepted  the  condition ; and  then  Pow- 
hatan, having  taken  what  he  liked,  valued  his 
corn  at  such  a rate,  that  they  had  not  four 
bushels  for  what  they  expected  twenty  hogs- 
heads. This  bred  some  distaste  between  tlfe 
two  English  captains;  but  Smith,  smothering 
his  dislike  before  the  savages,  glanced  several 
trifles  in  the  eyes  of  Powhatan,  who  soon  fixed 
his  fancy  on  some  blue  beads.  He  was  a long 
time  importunate  to  have  them ; but  Smith  val- 
ued them  so  much  the  higher,  and  told  him  they 
were  composed  of  a rare  substance  of  the  color 
of  the  skies,  and  were  not  to  be  worn  by  any  but 
the  greatest  kings  in  the  world.  This  made  him 
the  more  eager  and  mad  for  them;  so  lhat  for  a 
pound  or  two  of  blue  beads,  he  drew  from  him 
two  or  three  hundred  bushels  of  corn,  and  yet 
parted  in  good  friendship.  Upon  this  voyage, 
Newport  gave  Powhatan  a boy  named  Thomas 
Savage,  whom  he  called  his  son  ; and  Powhatan 
gave  him  Namontack,  a servant  of  his,  of  a 


- 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  95 

shrewd  and  subtle  capacity,”  who  afterwards 
visited  England,  and  was  murdered  on  the  re- 
turn voyage  at  Bermudas. 

From  Werowocomoco  they  went  to  Pamun- 
key,  where  they  were  feasted  in  like  manner  by 
Opechancanough.  Smith  fitted  him  also,  at  the 
same  rates,  with  blue  beads ; which,  by  this 
means,  grew  into  such  estimation,  that  none 
durst  wear  them  but  their  great  kings,  or  their 
wives  and  children.  At  length,  weighing  from 
thence,  they  returned  to  Jamestown;  where  this 
new  supply  of  corn  being  lodged  with  the  rest, 
their  storehouse  was  by  some  accident  fired,  and 
so  the  town,  which,  being  thatched  with  reeds, 
burnt  with  that  fierceness  and  violence,  as  soon 
consumed  their  wooden  fortifications,  with  their 
arms,  apparel,  and  bedding,  and  much  private 
goods  and  provision.  The  good  Mr.  Hunt  lost 
all  his  library,  with  every  thing  else  that  he  had, 
except  the  clothes  on  his  back;  yet  no  one  ever 
heard  him  murmur  or  repine  at  it. 

Notwithstanding  this  unfortunate  accident, 
they  had  yet  a tolerable  stock  of  oatmeal,  meal, 
and  corn,  had  not  the  ship  loitered  fourteen 
weeks  in  the  country,  when  she  might  as  well 
have  been  gone  in  fourteen  days ; for  they  there- 
by helped  to  consume  a great  part  of  the  colony’s 
store,  and  nearly  all  the  provisions  sent  to  be 
landed.  When  they  departed,  they  left  them 
what  little  they  thought  proper  to  spare ; which 
they  were  glad  to  receive,  and  make  up  an  ac- 
count, highly  commending  their  care  and  provi- 
dence, lest  they  should  discourage  the  council  at 


96  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

home  from  sending  any  more.  Yet  those  per- 
sons who  had  either  money,  spare  clothes,  credit 
for  bills  of  exchange,  gold  rings,  furs,  or  any  such 
valuable  commodities,  were  always  welcome  to 
this  floating  tavern.  Such  was  their  necessity 
and  misfortune,  to  be  under  the  lash  of  those  vile 
commanders,  and  to  buy  their  own  provisions 
at  fifteen  times  their  value:  suffering  them  to 
feast  at  their  charge,  whilst  themselves  were 
obliged  to  fast,  and  yet  dare  not  repine,  lest  they 
should  incur  the  censure  of  being  factious  and 
seditious  persons.  By  these  means  and  manage- 
ment, the  colony  was  rather  burdened  than  re- 
lieved, by  the  vast  charge  of  this  ship;  and  being 
reduced  to  meal  and  water,  and  exposed,  by  the 
loss  of  their  town,  to  the  most  bitter  cold  and 
frost,  above  half  of  them  died.  Smith  indeed 
and  Scrivener  endeavored  to  correct  all  abuses, 
and  to  put  things  into  abetter  posture;  but  they 
could  do  nothing  to  effect,  being  overpowered  by 
the  president  and  his  party,  who  had  long  before 
this  laid  aside  their  deference  to  Smith's  judg- 
ment and  management. 

“About  this  time  also  (1608)  there  sprung  up 
a very  troublesome  sect  of  gold-finders,  which 
was  headed  by  Captain  Martin,  and  warmly 
embraced  by  Newport.  There  was  no  thought, 
no  discourse,  no  hope,  and  no  work,  but  to  dig 
gold,  wash  gold,  refine  gold,  and  load  gold;  and 
notwithstanding  Captain  Smith's  warm  and  ju- 
dicious representations,  howT  absurd  it  was  to 
neglect  other  things  of  immediate  use  and  ne- 
cessity, to  load  such  a drunken  ship  with  gilded 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  97 

dust;  yet  was  he  over-ruled,  and  her  returns 
made  in  a parcel  of  glittering  dirt  which  is  found 
in  various  parts  of  the  country,  and  which  they 
very  sanguinely  concluded  to  be  gold  dust;  and 
in  her  they  sent  home  Mr.  Wingfield  and  Cap- 
tain Archer,  to  seek  some  better  place  of  em- 
ployment in  England;  for  they  had  assumed 
many  empty  titles  of  offices  here,  as  admirals, 
recorders,  chronologers,  justices  of  the  peace 
and  of  the  courts  of  plea,  with  other  such  idle 
and  insignificant  pretensions. 

“And  now  Martin  and  the  president,  carrying 
all  things  as  they  pleased,  by  their  faction,  lived 
in  great  splendor  by  the  sale  of  the  store’s  com- 
modities, as  if  they  had  been  their  proper  and 
hereditary  revenue;  and  the  spring  approaching, 
Captain  Smith  and  Mr.  Scrivener  prepared  fields 
for  corn,  and  applied  themselves  to  rebuild 
Jamestown,  and  repair  the  church,  store-house, 
and  fortifications;  but  whilst  they  were  all  busily 
engaged  at  their  several  labors,  Captain  Nelson, 
who  had  been  driven  off  the  coast,  as  was  before 
said,  and,  as  they  all  thought,  lost,  unexpectedly 
arrived  to  their  great  joy.  He  had  been  very 
careful  and  provident,  and  had  fed  his  company 
on  what  he  got  at  the  West  India  islands;  so 
that  the  provisions  he  now  landed,  joined  to  their 
former  store,  were*  sufficient  to  support  them  half 
a year,  according  to  their  present  allowance. 
He  himself  also  freely  imparted  whatever  he  had; 
and  by  his  fair  and  generous  behavior,  he  got 
the  good  word  and  love  of  the  whole  colony; 
and  the  president,  to  send  some  good  news  by 
9 


98  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

this  ship,  ordered  Captain  Smith,  with  sixty  able 
men,  to  discover  the  country  of  the  Monacan, 
! or,  as  they  were  afterwards  called,  the  Manakin 
Indians;  a nation  above  the  falls  of  James  river, 
not  subject  to  Powhatan,  but  professed  enemies 
! to  him  and  his  dominions;  for  that  strange  blood- 
thirstiness, and,  as  it  were,  judicial  infatuation, 
of  warring  against  and  exterminating  each  other, 
which  at  present  infests  our  Indians,  and  has 
been  the  cause  of  the  utter  extirpation  of  most 
of  the  nations  on  this  continent,  was  even  then 
rooted  in  their  nature,  and  may  be  observed  in 
the  oldest  accounts  that  we  have  of  them.  How- 
ever, as  it  was  the  time  of  planting  corn,  and 
this  ship  was  to  be  dispatched,  Captain  Smith 
thought  those  and  other  things  more  urgent  at 
that  time,  and  therefore  deferred  the  discovery, 
till  he  could  perform  it  with  less  charge  and  more 
leisure. 

“When  Newport  left  the  country,  Powhatan 
presented  him  with  twenty  turkies,  and  in  return 
demanded  twenty  swords,  which  were  immedi- 
ately sent  him.  Afterwards  he  presented  Cap- 
tain Smith  with  the  like  number;  but  having  no 
swords  in  return,  he  was  highly  offended,  and 
ordered  his  people  to  take  them  by  stratagem  or 
force.  So  that  they  became  insufferably  trou- 
blesome and  insolent,  would  surprise  the  English 
at  their  work,  and  seize  their  swords  at  the  very 
ports  of  Jamestown.  The  president  and  Martin, 
who  now  bore  the  sway,  would  keep  their  houses, 
or  do  any  thing,  rather  than  transgress  a strict 
command  from  England,  not  to  offend  them ; but 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  99 

at  length  they  happened  to  meddle  with  Captain 
Smith,  who  gave  them  a rough  encounter,  hunted 
them  up  and  down  the  island,  and  seized  seven, 
whom  he  whipped  and  imprisoned.  By  this  and 
other  smart  proceedings,  he  brought  them  to 
submission;  and  they  unanimously  confessed 
that  they  acted  by  Powhatan’s  direction,  in  order 
to  get  swords  from  the  English,  to  cut  their  own 
throats;  and  they  likewise  fully  disclosed  how, 
where,  and  when,  this  design  was  to  be  put  in 
execution;  all  which  was  confirmed  by  many 
concurrent  circumstances ; but  Powhatan,  finding 
that  things  went  not  according  to  his  desire  and 
intent,  sent  Pocahontas  with  presents  to  excuse 
himself  for  the  injuries  done  by  some  of  his  un- 
governable captains;  and  he  desired  their  liberty 
for  this  time,  with  assurances  of  his  love  and 
friendship  for  ever;  and  Smith,  having  given 
them  a proper  correction,  delivered  them  to  Po- 
cahontas; for  whose  sake  alone  he  pretended  to 
save  their  lives,  and  give  them  their  liberty. 
Thus,  without  the  death  of  one  man,  he  restrained 
their  insolence,  and  brought  them  into  such  per- 
fect fear  and  obedience,  that  his  very  name  was 
sufficient  to  fright  them;  whereas  before  they 
had  sometimes  peace  and  war  twice  in  a day, 
and  seldom  a week  passed  without  some  treach- 
ery or  ambuscade;  but  the  peaceable  council 
were  highly  offended  at  these  proceedings,  and 
expostulated  warmly  with  him  for  his  rashness 
and  cruelty. 

‘‘There  had  been  a dispute  between  Martin 
and  Smith,  whether  this  ship  should  be  laded 


I 1 

100  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

with  cedar  or  dirt;  but  her  freight  being  con- 
cluded to  be  cedar,  she  was,  by  the  diligence  of 
her  captain  and  Smith,  quickly  dispatched.  In 
her  Captain  Martin,  being  always  sickly  and  un- 
serviceable, and  having  his  head  full  of  the  idle 
whimsy  of  a gold  mine,  was  most  willingly  ad- 
mitted to  return  to  England.  In  these  two  ships, 
besides  Mr.  Scrivener,  came  Walter  Russel, 
doctor  of  physic,  Richard  Fetherstone,  and  some 
others  of  note;  and  whilst  Nelson  and  Smith 
were  engaged  in  loading  the  ship,  Mr.  Scrivener 
was  neither  idle  nor  slow  in  carrying  on  the 
works  of  Jamestown;  but  the  president’s  prodi- 
j gality  and  state  went  so  deep,  and  was  so  sensi- 
bly felt  in  their  small  store,  that  he  and  Smith 
were  obliged  to  bind  him  and  his  parasites  to  the 
rules  of  proportion.”* 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Departure  of  Nelson — Exploration  of  Chesapeake  Bay — Visits 
to  Various  Indian  Tribes — Discontent  among*  the  Crew — 
Discovery  of  the  Potomac — Severe  Accident  to  Smith  from 
a Stingray — Return  to  Jamestown — Ratclilfe  deposed,  and 
Smith  elected  President — He  appoints  Scrivener  his  substi- 
tute— Another  Exploring  Expedition — the  Massawomeks, 
Tockwoghs,  Susquesahanocks,  Rappahanocks,  Maraughta- 
cunds,  Mannahocks,  and  other  Indian  Tribes — Numerous 
Adventures  and  Narrow  Escapes — Return  to  Jamestown. 

“ On  the  2d  of  June  Captain  Nelson  fell  down 
the  river,  and  was  accompanied  to  the  capes  by 
Smith,  who,  (in  an  open  boat  of  about  three  tons 

* Stith’s  History  of  Virginia. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  101 

burthen,  together  with  Dr.  Russel  and  thirteen 
more,)  was  going  to  explore  Chesapeake  bay. 
Parting  with  the  ship  at  Cape  Henry,  they  stood 
over  to  those  islands,  which  were  then  called, 
after  him  their  first  discoverer,  Smith’s  islands. 
The  first  people  they  saw  were  two  grim  and 
stout  Indians  on  Cape  Charles,  with  long  poles, 
like  javelins,  headed  with  bone.  They  sternly 
demanded  what  they  were,  and  what  they  want- 
ed ; but  grew  afterwards  more  kind,  and  directed 
them  to  Accomack,  the  habitation  of  their  we- 
rowance.  This  king  treated  them  very  kindly, 
and  was  the  comeliest,  most  proper  and  civil  In- 
dian they  had  met  with.  They  spoke  the  lan- 
guage of  Powhatan,  and  at  that  time  lay  under 
the  misfortune  of  a strange  mortality,  which  they 
attributed  to  a miracle.  Passing  on  from  thence, 
they  coasted  it  along,  and  searched  every  inlet 
and  bay  that  seemed  proper  for  harbors  or  hab- 
itations; and  many  harbors  they  found  for  small 
vessels,  but  none  fit  to  receive  large  ships. 

‘‘Running  up  the  river,  the  natives  at  first 
threatened,  with  great  fury,  to  assault  them ; but 
at  last  became  very  tractable  and  kind.  They 
dug  in  several  places,  and  searched  their  habita- 
tions, yet  could  get  but  little  water,  and  that 
mere  puddle.  Yet  such  was  their  distress  two 
days  after,  that  they  would  have  refused  a quart 
full  of  gold  for  a pint  of  that  puddle.  Departing 
from  thence,  they  found  on  a high  point  of  land, 
which  they  called  Point  Plover,  a pond  of  fresh 
water,  but  so  exceedingly  hot,  that  they  supposed 
it  to  be  some  bath.  Then  standing  over  to  some 
9^ 


I 


102  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

other  islands,  there  arose  such  another  thunder- 
gust,  that  their  mast  and  sail  was  blown  over- 
board, and  such  mighty  waves  over-racked  their 
boat,  that  they  could  scarce,  with  much  labor  in 
bailing  out  the  water,  keep  her  from  sinking. 
Two  days  they  staid  among  these  islands,  and 
because  of  the  gusts  and  storms  that  then  hap- 
pened, they  called  the  place  Limbo;  but  they 
are  the  same,  which  have  since  been  named 
W ats’s  Islands.  Having  repaired  the  loss  of 
their  sail  with  their  shirts,  they  stood  over  again 
to  the  eastern  shore,  and  fell  in  with  a pretty 
convenient  river,  then  called  Cuscarawock. 
This  is  what  is  laid  down  in  our  present  charts 
by  the  name  of  Wighcocomoco,  by  whatever 
accident  that  name  hath  shifted  in  process  of 
time,  from  Pokomoke  river  to  this.  Here  the 
natives  opposed  them  very  furiously  ; but  leaving 
some  toys  in  their  huts,  they  brought  some  of 
them  over  at  last  to  be  very  fond  and  obliging. 
On  this  river  lived  the  nations  of  Sarapinagh, 
Nause,  Arseck,  and  Nantaquack,  who  were  the 
best  merchants  and  greatest  traders  of  all  the 
Indians  of  this  country.  They  had  the  finest 
furs,  and  made  large  quantities  of  the  best  Ro- 
anoke ; which  was  a sort  of  white  bead,  that 
occasioned  as  much  dissension  among  those  bar- 
barians, as  gold  and  silver  among  Christians. 
They  told  the  English  of,  and  highly  extolled,  a 
great  nation,  called  the  Massawomecks;  in  search 
of  whom  they  returned  again,  by  Limbo,  into 
the  bay;  and  finding  the  coast  of  the  eastern 
shore  nothing  but  shallow,  broken  isles,  and  for 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  103 

the  most  part  without  fresh  water,  they  stood 
away  from  thence  across  the  bay,  bearing  a little 
upwards,  and  fell  in  on  the  western  side,  above 
the  mouth  of  Patuxent  river,  against  some  high 
clifts,  which  they  called  Riccard’s  Clifts.  From 
hence  they  sailed  thirty  leagues  farther  north- 
ward, without  finding  any  inhabitants.  The 
coast  was  all  along  well  watered,  but  very 
mountainous  and  barren,  except  the  vallies, 
which  were  rich  and  fertile,  but  extremely  thick 
wooded,  and  therefore  abounded  in  wolves,  bears, 
deer,  and  other  wild  beasts.  They  passed  by 
many  coves  and  small  streams.  The  first  they 
found  navigable  for  a ship,  they  called  Bolus 
River,  because  the  clay  in  many  places  under 
the  clifts  grew  up  in  red  and  white  knobs,  like 
gum  out  of  trees,  and  they  concluded  it  to  be 
bole  armeniac  and  terra  sigillata.  This  river, 
by  its  situation  and  bearings,  must  be  the  same 
with  Patapsco  in  Maryland. 

“And  now  Captain  Smith’s  crew,  who  at  first 
feared  nothing  so  much  as  his  too  hasty  return, 
began  to  be  very  much  soiled  and  fatigued. 
They*  had  laid  twelve  or  fourteen  days  in  that 
open  boat,  were  often  tired  at  the  oars,  and  their 
bread  was  spoiled  and  rotten  with  the  rain;  so 
that  they  were  very  importunate  with  him  to 
return ; but  he  reminded  them  of  the  memorable 
resolution  of  Sir  Ralph  Lane’s  company,  in  the 
discovery  of  the  river  Moratuc,  who  insisted  on 
his  going  forward,  as  long  as  they  had  a dog  left, 
which,  being  boiled  with  sassafras  leaves,  would 
afford  them  a rich  repast  in  their  return;  and  he 


104  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

told  them,  what  a shame  it  would  be,  to  oblige 
him  to  return,  with  so  much  provision  as  they 
then  had,  when  they  could  scarce  say  where  they 
had  been,  or  give  any  account  of  what  they 
wTere  sent  to  discover : that  they  could  not  deny 
but  he  had  shared  wTith  them  in  the  worst  of 
wrhat  was  past;  and  he  was  willing  to  take  to 
himself  the  worst  part  of  what  was  to  come: 
that  it  was  not  likely  any  thing  worse  should  be- 
fal  them,  than  what  had  already  happened;  and 
that  to  return,  was  as  dangerous  as  to  proceed. 
He  therefore  advised  them  to  resume  their  lost 
courage;  for  he  was  determined  not  to  desist  till 
he  had  seen  the  Massawomecks,  found  Patow- 
mack,  or  traced  the  head  of  the  bay;  but  after 
this,  they  were  detained  by  the  wind  and  weather 
three  days;  which  added  such  a discouragement, 
that  three  or  four  fell  sick,  whose  dissatisfaction 
and  piteous  complaints  at  last  prevailed  with  him 
to  return. 

“On  the  16th  of  June,  they  fell  in  with  the 
mouth  of  Patowmack.  Their  fears  being  now 
gone,  and  men  recovered,  they  all  agreed  to  take 
some  pains  in  the  discovery  of  that  seven-mile 
broad  river : for  although  Smith  had  been  carried 
over  it  in  his  captivity,  yet  he  knew  it  not  again 
by  the  mouth.  For  thirty  miles  they  found  no 
inhabitants;  but  afterwards  were  conducted,  by 
two  savages,  up  a little  bayed  creek,  towards 
I Norniny,  where  they  discovered  the  woods  laid 
! with  ambuscades,  to  the  number  of  three  or  four 
thousand  Indians,  strangely  grimmed  and  dis- 
guised, and  making  a horrible  shouting  and  veil- 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  105 

ing.  They  made  many  bravadoes,  and  Smith 
prepared,  with  as  great  seeming  willingness,  to 
encounter  them  ; but  commanding  some  muskets 
to  be  discharged  on  purpose,  the  grazing  of  the 
bullets  on  the  water,  together  with  the  report 
and  echo  of  the  woods,  so  frightened  and  amazed 
them,  that  they  threw  down  their  arms,  and  be* 
came  very  kind  and  hearty  friends.  They 
owned  they  were  commanded  to  betray  that 
party  of  English,  by  the  direction  of  Powhatan, 
who  was  desired  so  to  do  by  some  discontented 
persons  at  Jamestown,  because  Captain  Smith 
obliged  them  to  stay  in  the  country  against  their 
will.  They  afterwards  went  up  the  river,  as 
high  as  they  could  with  their  boat;  and  were 
received  in  some  places  kindly,  and  in  others  in 
a hostile  manner.  Up  a small  river,  then  called 
Quiyough,  which  I take  to  be  Patowmack  creek, 
was  a mine  like  antimony.  In  this  the  Indians 
dug,  and  washing  away  the  dross  in  a clear 
brook  which  ran  by,  they  put  up  the  remainder 
in  little  bags,  and  sold  it  all  over  the  country,  to 
deck  their  bodies,  faces,  and  idols;  which  made 
j them  look  like  black amores,  dusted  over  with 
silver.  Newport  had  carried  some  of  these  bags 
home,  and  assured  them  that  they  were  found, 
upon  trial,  to  contain  half  silver.  Being  there- 
fore very  eager  after  this  mine,  they  obtained 
guides  from  Japazaws,  king  of  Patowmack,  who 
lived  at  the  mouth  of  that  little  river,  and  went 
up  to  it;  but  all  they  got  proved  of  no  value. 
Towards  the  falls  of  Patowmack,  they  met  sev- 
eral parties  of  Indians  in  canoes,  loaded  with 


106  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

the  flesh  of  bears,  deer,  and  other  wild  beasts, 
which  they  generously  impart  to  them;  and  in 
divers  places  they  saw  that  abundance  of  fish  ly- 
ing with  their  heads  above  water,  that  their  barge 
driving  among  them,  for  want  of  a net,  they  at- 
tempt to  catch  them  with  a frying  pan;  but 
they  found  that  a bad  instrument  to  catch  fish. 

“ From  Patowmack  they  set  sail  for  Rappa- 
hanock,  or,  as  it  was  by  many  called,  Toppahan- 
ock  river;  where  the  captain  intended  to  visit 
his  captivity-acquaintance;  but  their  boat,  by 
reason  of  the  lowness  of  the  tide,  ran  aground 
on  some  shoals  at  the  mouth  of  that  river,  where 
they  spied  many  fish  lurking  in  the  sedge.  The 
captain  diverted  himself  by  nailing  them  to  the  i 
ground  with  his  sword;  and  the  rest  betaking 
themselves  to  the  same  sport,  they  took  more 
fish  in  an  hour,  than  they  could  eat  in  a day; 
but  Captain  Smith,  taking  from  his  sword  a fish, 
like  a thornback,  with  a long  tail,  in  the  midst 
of  which  was  a poisoned  sting,  of  two  or  three 
inches  length,  bearded  like  a saw  on  each  side, 
she  struck  her  sting  into  his  wrist  an  inch  and 
a half.  No  blood  or  wound  was  seen,  but  only 
a little  blue  spot;  yet  such  was  the  extremity  of 
pain,  and  his  hand,  arm,  and  shoulder,  were  so 
swollen  in  four  hours’  time,  that  they  all,  with 
much  sorrow,  expected  his  death,  and  prepared 
his  grave  in  an  island  by,  as  he  himself  directed; 
but  it  pleased  God,  by  the  application  of  an  oil, 
which  Dr.  Russel  had  with  him,  his  torment 
was  so  eased  and  assuaged  before  night,  that  to 
the  great  joy  of  the  company,  he  eat  of  4he  fish 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


107 


for  his  supper;  and  in  memory  of  this  accident, 
they  c'alled  the  isle  Stingray  Island,  after  the 
name  of  the  fish. 

“Their  provisions  being  near  spent,  and  being 
also  deterred  by  this  misfortune,  they  set  sail 
immediately  foi'  Jamestown  ; and  passing  by  the 
mouths  of  Pinkatank  and  Pamunkey  rivers,  they 
arrived  the  next  day  at  Kicquotan.  From 
thence  they  proceeded  up  to  Warrasqueake; 
where,  trimming  their  barge  with  painted  stream- 
ers, and  other  such  devices,  they  were  taken  for 
a Spanish  frigate  at  Jamestown,  where  they  ar- 
rived the  21st  of  July.  There  they  found  the 
last  supply  of  men  all  sick ; and  of  the  rest,  some 
lame,  some  bruised,  \nd  all  in  a tumult  and  up- 
roar against  the  unreasonable  pride  and  cruelty 
of  the  president,  whom  they  would  as  strangely 
have  tormented  with  revenge,  had  it  not  been 
for  this  seasonable  arrival  of  the  discovery  barge. 
He  had  riotously  consumed  the  store,  and  had 
greatly  harassed  and  fatigued  the  people,  in 
building  an  unnecessary  house  of  pleasure  for 
himself  in  the  woods ; but  their  fury  was  much 
appeased  by  the  good  news  of  this  discovery, 
and  by  the  hopes,  from  some  mistaken  interpret- 
ation of  the  savage’s  account,  that  our  bay 
reached  to  the  South  Sea,  or  somewhere  near 
it;  but  above  all,  by  the  deposing  Ratcliffe,  and 
Captain  Smith’s  taking  the  government  upon 
himself. 

* Smith  substituted  his  good  friend  Mr.  Scriv- 
ener, who  then  lay  exceeding  ill  of  a calenture, 
in  the  presidency;  and  having  settled  all  things 

1 * --- 


108 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


1 


to  his  own  and  the  people’s  satisfaction,  he  staid 
but  three  days  at  Jamestown;  for  the  24th  of 
July,  he  set  forward,  with  twelve  men,  to  finish 
the  discovery  of  the  bay.  They  were  detained 
two  or  three  days  at  Kicquotan,  by  contrary 
winds,  where  they  were  kindly  entertained  and 
feasted  by  the  king,  and  in  diversion  fired  sev- 
eral rockets,  which  greatly  terrified  and  aston- 
ished the  poor  savages.  From  thence  they 
anchored,  the  first  night,  at  Stingray  Island; 
and  the  next  day,  crossing  the  mouth  of  Patow- 
mack,  they  hastened  to  the  river  Bolus.  A little 
beyond  that,  they  found  the  bay  divided  into 
four  streams,  all  which  they  searched,  as  far  as 
they  could  sail.  Two  of  them  they  found  in- 
habited, the  rivers  Susquesahanock  and  Tock- 
wogh,  since  called  Sassafras  river.  In  crossing 
the  bay,  they  met  seven  or  eight  canoes  full  of 
Massawomecks,  a great  and  powerful  nation  of 
Indians  inhabiting  upon  some  of  the  lakes  of 
Canada,  and  the  original  perhaps  of  those  at 
present  known  by  the  name  of  the  Senecas  or 
Six  Nations.  They  were  at  that  time  professed 
eijemies,  and  a great  terror  to  the  nations  dwell- 
ing on  the  upper  part  of  our  bay,  and  had  then 
been  at  war  with  the  Tockwoghs.  After  mutual 
threats  of  assault  between  them  and  the  English, 
they  were  at  last  induced  to  go  on  board  the 
barge;  and  by  interchangeable  presents  becoming 
good  friends,  they  departed  without  farther  inter- 
course or  conversation. 

“The  next  day,  entering  the  river  Tockwogh, 
they  were  environed  with  a fleet  of  canoes,  full 

• 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SxMITH.  109 

of  armed  men ; but  coming  to  a parley,  and  the 
Tockwoghs  seeing  the  Massawomeck  arms, 
which  they  had  presented  to  the  English  the  day 
before,  and  which  the  English  made  them  believe 
they  had  taken  in  war,  they  were  soon  reconciled, 
and  conducted  them  to  their  town.  It  was  pal- 
isadoed  round,  mantled  with  the  barks  of  trees, 
had  scaffolds  like  mounts,  and  was  breasted  very 
formally.  The  men,  women,  and  children  did 
their  utmost  to  express  their  affection ; and  wel- 
comed them  with  songs,  dances,  fruits,  and  furs, 
and  with  whatever  else  they  had.  Here  they 
saw  many  hatchets,  knives,  and  pieces  of  iron 
and  brass,  which,  they  told  them,  they  had  from 
the  Susquesahanocks,  a mighty  nation,  dwelling 
on  the  chief  of  the  four  branches  at  the  head  of 
the  bay,  twTo  days’  journey  above  the  falls  of  that 
river.  They  prevailed  with  two  Tockwoghs  to 
go  and  invite  some  of  the  Susquesahanocks  to 
them.  In  three  or  four  days,  sixty  of  those  gi- 
gantic people  came  down  with  presents  of  vari- 
ous kinds ; and  the  wind  being  too  high  for  their 
canoes,  five  of  their  chief  werowances  came 
boldly  on  board  the  English  barge,  and  crossed 
the  bay  to  Tockwogh. 

“This  nation  of  the  Susquesahanocks  could 
muster  about  six  hundred  fighting  men,  and  lived 
in  palisadoed  towns,  to  defend  themselves  against 
the  Massawomecks,  their  mortal  enemies.  They 
were  very  large,  well-proportioned  men,  and 
appeared  like  giants  to  the  English  and  other 
Indians;  yet  seemed  of  an  honest  and  simple 
disposition,  and  were  scarcely  restrained  from 
10 


! 110  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


adoring  the  English  as  gods ; and  their  language 
and  attire  were  very  suitable  to  their  stature 
and  appearance ; for  their  language  sounded  deep, 
and  solemn,  and  hollow,  like  a voice  in  a vault. 
Their  attire  was  the  skins  of  bears  and  wolves, 
j so  cut,  that  the  man’s  head  went  through  the 
neck,  and  the  ears  of  the  bear  were  fastened  on 
| his  shoulders,  while  the  nose  and  teeth  hung 
■ dangling  down  upon  his  breast.  Behind  was 
another  bear’s  face  split,  with  a paw  hanging  at 
the  nose ; and  their  sleeves,  coming  down  to  their 
elbows,  were  the  necks  of  bears,  with  their  arms 
going  through  the  mouth,  and  paws  hanging  to 
i the  noses.  One  had  the  head  of  a wolf  hanging 
to  a chain,  for  a jewel ; and  his  tobacco  pipe  I 

was  three-quarters  of  a yard  long,  carved  with 
a bird,  a deer,  and  other  devices  at  the  great 
end;  which  was  sufficient  to  beat  out  a man’s 
brains.  They  measured  the  calf  of  the  largest 
man’s  leg,  and  found  it  three-quarters  of  a yard 
about,  and  all  the  rest  of  his  limbs  were  in  pro- 
portion; so  that  he  seemed  the  stateliest  and 
most  goodly  personage  they  had  ever  beheld. 
His  arrows  were  five-quarters  long,  headed  with 
the  splinters  of  a white  crystal-like  stone,  in 
form  of  a heart,  an  inch  broad,  and  an  inch  and 
a half,  or  more,  long.  These  he  carried  at  his 
back,  in  a wolf’s  skin  for  his  quiver,  with  his 
bow  in  one  hand,  and  his  club  in  the  other. 

“ The  manner  of  the  English  was  daily  to  have 
prayers  with  a psalm;  at  which  solemnity  those  i 
poor  barbarians  wondered  greatly.  Prayers  | 
being  done,  the  Susquesahanocks  held  a con- 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  Ill 

sultation;  and  then  began  in  a very  passionate 
manner  to  hold  up  their  hands  to  the  sun,  with 
a most  frightful  song.  Then  embracing  Captain 
Smith,  they  began  to  adore  him  in  like  manner. 
He  rebuked  them  for  it ; but  they  persisted,  till 
their  song  was  finished.  After  which,  with  a 
strange  furious  action,  and  a dismal  voice,  they 
began  an  oration  of  their  love;  which  ended, 
they  covered  him  with  a large  painted  bear’s 
skin.  One  stood  ready  with  a great  chain  of 
white  beads,  weighing  six  or  seven  pounds,  which 
he  hung  about  his  neck.  The  others  had  eight- 
een mantles,  made  of  divers  sorts  of  skins  sewed 
together;  all  which,  with  many  other  baubles, 
they  laid  at  his  feet,  stroking  their  hands  about 
his  neck,  for  his  creation  to  be  their  governor 
and  protector.  They  promised  him  aids  of  men 
and  victuals,  and  even  offered  all  that  they  had, 
if  he  would  stay  with  them,  to  defend  and  re- 
venge them  on  the  Massawomecks ; but  he  was 
obliged  to  leave  them  at  Tockwogh,  very  sor- 
rowful for  his  departure;  yet  promised  to  visit 
them  again  the  next  year.  They  knew  nothing 
of  Powhatan  and  his  territories  but  the  name; 
and  they  informed  the  English  that  their  hatch- 
ets and  other  commodities  came  originally  from 
the  French  of  Canada. 

“Having  searched  all  the  rivers  and  inlets 
worth  note,  they  passed  down  the  bay,  naming 
all  the  remarkable  head-lands  and  places  after 
some  of  the  company  or  their  friends.  On  the 
river  Patuxent  they  found  the  people  tractable 
and  civil  above  all  others.  They,  as  well  as  the 


112 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


Patowmacks,  were  very  urgent  with  Smith  to 
revenge  them  on  the  Massawomecks,  which  he 
promised  to  do.  but  was  afterwards  crossed  in 
his  purpose;  for  depending  upon  the  assistance 
and  provisions  of  those  two  nations,  and  of  the 
Susquesahanocks,  he  was  very  willing  to  hazard 
his  person  in  the  expedition:  and  therefore,  after 
his  return,  he  petitioned  the  council  for  forty 
men,  to  effect  such  a conquest  and  discovery; 
but  the  council,  envying  his  industry  and  suc- 
cess, and  deterred  perhaps  also  by  the  difficulty 
of  the  undertaking,  refused  to  risk  the  lives  of  so 
many  men,  in  so  long  and  so  dangerous  an 
enterprise. 

“In  the  discovery  of  Rappahanock  river,  they 
were  kindly  received  and  entertained  by  the 
people  of  Moraughtacund.  Here  they  met  with 
an  old  friend  and  acquaintance,  one  Mosco,  a 
lusty  Indian  of  Wighcocomoco  on  the  river  Pa- 
towmack.  They  supposed  him  some  French- 
man’s son,  because  he  had  a thick,  black,  bushy  j 
beard,  and  the  Indians  seldom  have  any  at  all; 
and  he  was  not  a little  proud  of  this,  and  to  see 
so  many  of  his  countrymen.  He  was  very  of- 
ficious and  useful  to  the  English;  and  advised 
them  by  all  means  not  to  pass  over  to  the  Rap- 
pahanocks,  who  would  certainly  kill  them  for 
being  friends  with  the  Moraughtacunds,  who 
had  lately  stolen  three  of  their  king’s  women ; 
but  thinking  he  only  said  this  to  secure  their 
trade  to  his  friends,  they  crossed  the  river  to 
the  Rappahanocks.  There,  under  pretence  of 
trade,  they  were  invited  up  Rappahanock  creek, 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


113 


where  they  had  laid  an  ambush;  and  after  a 
smart  skirmish,  in  which  many  Indians  were 
slain  and  wounded,  the  English  came  off  victors 
without  the  least  hurt.  Having  driven  them  up 
into  the  woods,  they  seized  three  or  four  canoes,  j 
full  of  commodities,  which,  with  some  arrows 
they  had  gathered  up,  they  presented  to  Mosco 
for  his  kindness;  and  he,  on  his  part,  received 
them  in  the  most  triumphant  manner,  and  in  the 
best  martial  order  under  arms,  that  he  could 
procure  of  the  Moraughtacunds. 

“They  spent  the  rest  of  the  day  in  fitting  up 
their  boat  with  a breast- work  of  Massawomeck 
targets,  which  they  had  received  from  them,  as  j 
presents,  at  the  head  of  the  bay,  and  which  had 
been  of  singular  use  in  the  battle  with  the  Rap-  j 
pahanocks.  They  were  made  of  small  twigs, 
woven  together  so  firmly  with  strings  of  wild  ! 
hemp  and  silk-grass,  that  no  arrow  could  possi-  1 
bly  pierce  them.  The  next  morning,  they  set  ' 
sail  up  the  river;  and  Mosco  followed  along  the 
shore,  and  at  last  desired  to  go  with  them  in  the 
boat.  As  they  passed  by  Pisacack,  Matcho- 
peake,  and  Mecuppom,  three  towns,  situate  on 
the  north  side  of  the  river,  on  high,  white,  clay 
clifts,  with  a low  marsh  over  against  them,  and 
the  river  but  narrow,  thirty  or  forty  Rappahan- 
ocks  had  so  disguised  themselves  with  branches, 
that  they  took  them  for  little  bushes  growing  in 
the  sedge.  They  saw  their  arrows  often  strike 
against  the  targets,  and  drop  into  the  river;  and 
at  last  Mosco,  falling  flat  on  his  face  in  the  boat, 
cried  out,  ‘The  Rappahanocks!’  They  soon 
10* 


114 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


perceived  them  to  be  the  bushes  in  the  sedge, 
which  at  the  first  volley  fell  down ; and  when 
they  had  passed  about  half  a mile  further,  they 
again  showed  themselves,  singing  and  dancing 
very  merrily;  but  they  were  kindly  treated  by 
the  rest  of  the  nations  to  the  falls,  and  they  even 
used  their  utmost  interest  with  Mosco,  to  bring 
the  Englteh  to  them.  Between  Secobeck  on  the 
south,  and  Massawteck  on  the  north  side  of  the 
river,  there  was  a small  island  or  two,  which 
made  the  river  broader  than  ordinary.  Here 
Mr.  Richard  Fetherstone,  one  of  their  company, 
died;  who,  from  his  first  coming  to  the  country, 
had  behaved  himself  honestly,  valiantly,  and  in-  j 
dustriously.  They  buried  him  in  a little  bay, 
which  they  then  called  Fetherstone’s  bay,  with 
a volley  of  their  arms;  but  the  rest  of  the  last 
supply,  wl  had,  on  the  expedition,  been  miser- 
ably sick  ana  harassed  with  their  seasoning,  had 
by  this  time  perfectly  recovered  their  health. 

“The  next  day,  they  sailed  up  as  high  as  their 
boat  could  go,  setting  up  crosses,  and  carving 
their  names  on  the  trees;  which  they  constantly 
did  at  all  the  highest  places  they  went  to.  As 
they  ranged  about  at  the  falls,  the  sentinel  saw 
an  arrow  fall  by  him ; and  giving  the  alarm,  they 
perceived  about  an  hundred  nimble  Indians, 
skipping  from  tree  to  tree,  and  letting  fly  their 
arrows  as  fast  as  they  could;  but  after  half  an 
hour’s  skirmish,  they  all  vanished  as  suddenly  as 
they  came.  As  the  English  returned  from  the 
pursuit,  they  found  an  Indian,  lying  as  dead,  shot 
in  the  knee.  Mosco,  who  had  been  of  great 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  115 

service  in  the  battle,  was  as  furious  to  beat  out 
his  brains,  as  ever  dog  was  against  a bear;  but 
protecting  him  from  his  rage,  and  carrying  him 
to  the  surgeon  who  attended  to  cure  the  cap- 
tain’s hurt  of  the  stingray,  he  was  within  an  hour 
so  far  recovered,  that  he  both  ate  and  spoke. 
He  was  brother  to  the  king  of  Hassininga,  one 
of  the  four  nations  of  the  Mannahocks.  These 
were  a people  dwelling  above  the  falls  of  Rap- 
pahanock,  neighbors  to,  and  in  strict  friendship 
and  alliance  with  the  Manakins  against  Pow- 
hatan and  his  territories;  for  the  Manakins  were 
not  confined  to  one  place  or  town,  as  is  vulgarly 
thought,  but  spread  all  that  country,  from  a small 
distance  above  the  falls  of  James  river  up  to 
the  mountains,  in  several  towns;  and  they  were 
the  heads  or  chiefs  of  the  league  and  confederacy 
of  the  upland  and  mountain  Indians  against  the 
power  and  tyranny  of  Powhatan.  These  Man.- 
nahocks,  their  neighbors  and  allies,  lived  on  small 
streams,  in  a hilly  country,  chiefly  by  hunting; 
and  were  then  come  down  to  fish  at  Mohaskahod, 
a small  hunting  town,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
falls  of  Rappahanock,  and  the  boundary  between 
them  and  the  Nantaughtacunds,  a large  nation 
on  the  navigable  river  below  the  falls.  The 
English  asked  their  prisoner  why  they  had  en- 
deavored to  destroy  them,  who  came  to  them 
in  peace,  to  seek  their  friendship.  He  answered, 
that  they  heard  the  English  were  a people  come 
from  under  the  world,  to  take  their  world  from 
them.  Being  asked  how  many  worlds  he  knew, 
he  said  he  knew  none  but  that  which  was  under 


I 


the  sky  that  covered  him,  and  which  consisted 
of  the  Powhatans,  the  Manakins,  and  the  Mas- 
sawomecks;  and  he  told  them  that  the  last  dwelt 
on  a great  water,  had  many  boats,  and  so  many  ; 
men,  that  they  warred  on  all  the  world  besides. 
After  many  other  questions  concerning  the 
country,  especially  beyond  the  great  mountains, 
to  which  he  could  give  no  satisfactory  answers, 
they  presented  him  with  some  toys,  and  per- 
suaded him  to  go  along  with  them;  but  he 
pressed  them  much  to  stay  the  coming  of  the 
Mannahock  kings,  who,  for  their  good  usage  to 
him,  should  be  their  friends;  and  notwithstanding 
Mosco’s  eager  solicitations  to  be  gone,  they 
resolved  to  stay  till  night,  preparing  themselves 
to  entertain  whatever  should  come. 

“All  this  while  the  king  of  Hassininga  was 
seeking  the  rest,  and  held  a long  consultation 
what  to  do.  When  the  English  had  weighed 
and  were  gone,  they  followed  them  all  night, 
yelling,  and  hallooing,  and  shooting  their  arrows, 
and  would  come  to  no  terms  or  discourse;  but 
in  the  morning,  being  brought  to  a parley,  Am- 
oroleck,  the  prisoner,  held  a long  discourse  with 
them.  He  told  them  how  good  the  English 
were,  and  how  kindly  they  had  used  him;  that 
they  had  a Patowmack  with  them:  that  loved 
them  as  his  life,  and  would  have  slain  him,  had 
they  not  prevented  it;  and  that  he  might  have 
his  liberty  if  they  would  be  friends;  to  which 
he  advised  them  by  all  means,  since  to  do  them 
any  hurt  was  impossible.  Upon  this  they  all 
hung  their  bows  and  quivers  upon  the  trees; 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  117 

and  one  came  swimming  aboard  with  a bow  tied  j 

on  his  head,  and  another  with  a quiver  of  i 

arrows.  Having  presented  them  to  the  captain, 
he  used  them  very  kindly,  and  told  them  that 
the  other  three  kings  should  do  the  same,  and 
then  the  great  king  of  his  world  should  be  their 
friend.  This  was  no  sooner  demanded,  than 
performed ; and  so  going  ashore  on  a low  morass 
point  of  land,  those  four  kings  came,  and  re- 
ceived Amoroleck;  and  after  many  mutual  civ- 
ilities and  presents,  the  English  departed,  leaving 
four  or  five  hundred  Mannahocks,  singing,  dan- 
cing, and  making  loud  and  barbarous  rejoicings. 

“In  their  return  down  the  river  they  visited 
all  their  friends,  who  rejoiced  much  at  their  vic- 
tory over  the  Mannahocks.  By  their  entreaty, 
Captain  Smith  was  induced  to  make  peace  with 
the  Ilappahanocks;  upon  condition  that  they 
should  present  him  the  king’s  bow  and  arrows, 
and  not  offer  to  come  armed  where  he  was ; and 
that  they  should  be  friends  with  the  Moraughta- 
cunds,.  his  friends,  and  give  their  king’s  son  a 
hostage  for  the  performance.  Accordingly,  the 
kings  of  Nantaughtacund  and  Pisasack  met  the 
English  at  the  place  where  they  first  fought. 
There  the  king  of  Rappahanock  presented  his 
bow  and  arrows,  and  performed  all  they  demand- 
ed, except  the  delivering  his  son ; for  having  no 
other,  he  said  he  could  not  live  without  him; 
and  he  offered  in  his  stead  to  give  up  the  three 
women,  which  the  Moraughtacunds  had  stolen 
from  him.  This  was  accepted ; and  the  women 
being  brought,  Captain  Smith  presented  each  of 


118  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

them  with  a chain  of  beads.  Then  causing  the 
king  of  Rappahanock,  of  Moraughtacund,  and 
Mosco  to  stand  before  him,  he  bid  the  king  of 
Rappahanock  take  her  he  loved  best,  Moraugh- 
tacund to  choose  next,  and  to  Mosco  he  gave  the 
third ; and  thus  was  the  peace  concluded,  and 
celebrated  with  feasting,  singing,  and  dancing; 
and  Mosco,  to  express  his  love  to  the  English, 
changed  his  name  to  Uttasantasough,  which  sig- 
nified in  their  language,  Stranger , and  was  the 
name  by  which  they  called  the  English;  and  then 
all  the  Indians,  promising  to  be  always  their 
friends,  and  to  plant  corn  purposely  for  them; 
and  the  English,  on  their  side,  to  provide  hatch- 
ets, beads,  and  copper  for  them ; they  departed, 
giving  them  a volley  of  their  fire-arms,  which 
they  returned  with  as  loud  shouts  and  cries  as 
their  strength  could  utter. 

“That  night  they  anchored  in  the  river  Pi- 
ankatank,  and  discovered  it  as  high  as  it  was 
navigable;  but  the  people  were  gone  out  to 
hunting,  except  a few  old  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren, that  were  tending  their  corn.  Of  these 
they  obtained  a promise  of  part,  when  they 
should  fetch  it;  as  they  had  likewise  done  of  all 
the  nations,  wherever  they  had  been.  Going 
from  thence  to  Point  Comfort,  they  were  in  a 
bay  on  the  south  of  the  mouth  of  York  river, 
then  called  Gosnold’s  bay,  surprised  in  the  night 
with  such  a sudden  gust  of  thunder  and  rain, 
that  they  never  expected  more  to  see  Jamestown; 
but  discerning  the  land  by  the  flashes  of  light- 
ning, they  avoided  splitting  on  the  shore;  till,  by 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  110 

\ 

the  help  of  the  same  light,  they  found  Point 
Comfort,  where  they  landed,  and  refreshed  them- 
selves the  rest  of  the  night. 

“Having  discovered  so  many  nations  at  a 
distance,  they  thought  it  highly  proper  and 
necessary  to  know  their  near  neighbours,  the 
Chesapeakes,  and  Nansamonds,  of  whom  they 
had,  as  yet,  only  heard.  Therefore  setting  sail 
for  the  southern  shore,  they  entered  a narrow 
river,  then  called  Chesapeake,  but  now  Elizabeth, 
on  which  the  town  of  Norfolk  stands.  It  had 
a good  channel,  but  some  shoals  about  the  en- 
trance. They  sailed  up  six  or  seven  miles,  and 
saw  two  or  three  little  garden-plots,  with  houses, 
and  the  shores  overgrown  with  the  largest  pines 
they  had  ever  seen  in  the  country;  but  neither 
seeing  nor  hearing  any  people,  and  their  river 
being  very  narrow,  they  returned  back,  and 
coasted  the  shore  towards  Nansamond,  which 
they  found  to  be  chiefly  oyster-banks.  At  the 
mouth  of  Nansamond,  they  spied  six  or  seven 
Indians  making  their  weirs,  who  presently  fled; 
but  the  English  went  ashore,  and  threw  divers 
toys  where  they  wrere  working,  and  so  departed. 
They  were  not  gone  far,  before  the  Indians  re- 
turned, and  began  to  sing,  and  dance,  and  call 
them  back.  One  of  them  came  voluntarily  into 
their  boat,  and  invited  them  up  the  river  to  his 
house,  which  was  in  a little  island,  where  (as 
well  as  on  the  main  land  against  it)  they  saw 
many  and  large  corn-fields.  He  treated"  them 
with  great  civility,  and  they  in  return  presented 
him,  his  wife,  and  children,  with  such  toys  as 


* 120  LITE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

highly  pleased  them.  By  that  time  the  others 
| being  come,  invited  them  higher  up  the  river, 
under  pretence  of  going  to  their  houses  likewise; 
but  they  soon  found  that  they  only  intended  to 
decoy  them  up  into  the  narrows  of  the  river, 
where  the  whole  nations  of  the  Nansamonds  and 
Chesapeakes  were  in  ambush  to  receive  them. 

| Having  discovered  the  treachery,  they  made  the 
best  of  their  way  down  into  the  open,  amidst  the 
shot  of  three ‘or  four  hundred  Indians,  which  they 
returned  from  their  muskets  with  such  effect, 
that  they  soon  made  them  glad  to  take  shelter 
behind  the  trees.  Above  an  hundred  arrows 
stuck  in  their  breast- work  of  Massaworneck  tar- 
| gets,  and  about  the  boat,  yet  none  was  hurt, 
i Only  Anthony  Bagnall,  the  surgeon,  was  shot  in 
his  hat,  and  another  in  the  sleeve.  Having 
gained  the  open  against  the  island,  they  seized 
on  all  their  canoes,  and  resolved,  upon  consulta- 
tion, to  burn  every  thing  on  the  island  at  night. 
In  the  mean  while  they  began  to  cut  to  pieces 
their  canoes;  at  the  sight  of  which  the  Indians 
threw  down  their  arms,  and  sued  for  peace; 
which  the  English  granted,  on  condition  they 
would  bring  their  king’s  bow  and  arrows,  with 
a chain  of  pearl;  and  should,  when  they  came 
back  again,  give  them  four  hundred  baskets  of 
corn.  Otherwise  they  threatened  to  break  all 
their  canoes,  to  burn  their  houses  and  corn,  and 
to  destroy  all  that  they  had.  To  these  conditions 
the  Indians  most  joyfully  agreed;  and  flocking 
down  with  their  baskets,  they  soon  loaded  their 
boat  with  corn,  and  so  parted  good  friends. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


121 


“And  thus  having  viewed  and  reconnoitered 
all  the  places  on  the  bay,  and  having  passed 
about  three  thousand  miles,  according  to  their 
own  computation,  in  that  small  and  open  boat, 
and  in  the  midst  of  many  barbarous  and  savage 
nations,  they  returned  with  joy  and  triumph  to 
Jamestown,  where  they  arrived  safe,  the  7th  of 
September,  1608.  There  they  found  Mr.  Scriv- 
ener, and  several  others,  well  recovered;  some 
sick;  many  dead;  the  late  president  a prisoner 
for  mutiny;  and  the  corn,  by  Mr.  Scrivener's 
honest  diligence,  gathered;  but  the  provisions  in 
the  store  much  injured  by  the  rain.J,# 


CHAPTER  X. 

Smith  consents  to  administer  the  Government — Arrival  of 
Newport  with  a Crown  and  other  Absurd  Gifts  for  Pow- 
hatan— Smith  opposes  his  Course,  but  is  Overruled  : Visits 
Powhatan,  who  finally  submits  to  a Coronation — Newport’s 
Unfortunate  Expedition  to  the  Manakins— Novel  Remedy 
for  Profanity-— Smith’s  Success  in  procuring’ Corn  : Plot  to 
Injure  him  Overthrown — Newport  and  his  Mariners  the 
Source  of  much  Mischief  and  Misrepresentation — Com- 
plaints of  the  Council  in  England— Smith’s  Rejoinder. 

“On  the  10th  of  September,  by  the  election 
of  the  council,  and  the  request  of  the  colony, 
Captain  Smith  was  invested  with  the  govern- 
ment; which,  till  then,  he  would  by  no  means 
accept,  though  often  importuned  to  it.  And 
now  the  building  of  Ratcliffe's  palace  was 
stopped,  and  works  of  more  immediate  use  and 

* Stith’s  History  of  Virginia. 

11 


WTO*  COtLEGE  LIBR/ 

CNCS f Nil!  HILL,  MASS. 


122  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

necessity  undertaken.  The  church  was  repair- 
I ed;  the  store-house  new  covered;  and  a place 
I made  ready  for  the  reception  of  the  supplies  they 
daily  expected  from  England.  The  fort  was  re- 
| duced  into  form;  the  order  of  the  watch  was  re- 
newed; the  troops  trained  at  each  setting  of  the 
watch;  and  the  whole  company  every  Saturday 
exercised  in  the  plain  towards  the  west,  which 
was  prepared  for  that  purpose,  and  called  Smith- 
field;  where  sometimes  above  an  hundred  In- 
dians would  stand  in  amazement,  to  behold  how 
a file  would  batter  a tree,  where  the  president 
had  made  them  a mark  to  shoot  at.  And  now 
being  the  time  of  gathering  corn,  and  of  plenty 
among  the  Indians,  the  boats  were  trimmed 
for  trade,  and  sent  out  under  the  command  of 
Lieutenant  Percy;  but  in  their  way,  meeting 
Captain  Newport  with  the  second  supply,  he 
brought  them  back  to  Jamestown. 

“Captain  Newport  was  in  reality  an  empty, 
idle,  interested  man;  very  fearful  and  suspicious 
in  times  of  danger  and  difficulty;  but  a very 
great  and  important  person  in  his  own  talk  and 
conceit.  He  had,  by  the  advantage  of  going 
to  and  fro,  gained  so  much  upon  the  ear  and 
confidence  of  the  council  and  company  in  Eng- 
land, that  whatever  he  proposed,  was  for  the 
most  part  concluded  and  resolved  on;  and  upon 
this  voyage,  he  obtained  a private  commission, 
not  to  return  without  a lump  of  gold,  a certainty 
of  the  South  Sea,  or  one  of  the  lost  company, 
sent  out  by  Sir  Walter  Raleigh.  Besides,  he 
brought  an  express  command  to  discover  the 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  123 

country  of  the  Manakins,  with  a barge,  for  con- 
veniency  of  carriage,  to  be  taken  into  five  pieces, 
which  they  were  to  carry  beyond  the  falls,  to 
the  South  Sea.  He  likewise  brought  over  a 
crown  for  Powhatan,  with  orders  for  his  corona- 
tion, and  presents  of  a bason  and  ewer,  bed,  bed- 
stead, clothes,  and  other  costly  novelties;  which 
stately  kind  of  court  had  this  bad  effect,  that  it 
made  him  value  himself  too  much,  and  overrate 
his  favour,  which  they  had  before  much  better 
for  a plain  piece  of  copper.  In  this  voyage  came 
over  many  persons  of  distinction:  Captain  Peter 
Wynne  and  Captain  Richard  Waldo,  two  old 
soldiers  and  valiant  gentlemen,  both  appointed 
of  the  council;  Mr.  Francis  West,  brother  to 
the  Lord  Delaware;  Raleigh  Croshaw,  John 
Russel,  John  Codrington,  Daniel  Tucker,  Mr. 
Hunt,  Thomas  Forest,  and  others,  to  the  number 
of  seventy  persons.  In  this  ship  likewise  arrived 
Mrs.  Forest,  and  Anne  Burras,  her  maid,  the 
first  English  women  ever  in  this  country;  and 
eight  Poles  and  Germans  were  sent,  to  make 
pitch,  tar,  glass,  mills,  and  soap-ashes;  which, 
when  the  country  was  replenished  with  people 
and  necessaries,  would  have  done  exceedingly 
well,  but  in  that  their  infant  state,  they  were 
only  a burden  and  hindrance  to  the  rest,  wrho 
were  sufficiently  puzzled  and  employed  to  find 
subsistence  for  themselves. 

“Captain  Smith,  whose  mind  was  solid  and 
provident,  and  plainly  foresaw  the  ill  consequence 
of  spending  that  time  in  these  projects,  which 
ought  to  be  employed  in  the  speedy  dispatch  of 


124  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

the  ship,  and  in  trading  and  laying  in  a store  of 
provisions  for  the  year,  was  much  mortified  and 
perplexed  with  these  orders,  and  strenuously  op- 
posed their  execution  in  council ; but  Newport 
undertook  to  freight  the  bark  of  twenty  tons  with 
corn,  in  going  and  returning  from  the  Manakins ; 
and  to  obtain  another  load  for  her  of  Powhatan, 
from  Werowocomoco.  He  also  promised  a large 
proportion  of  victuals  from  the  ship;  which  he 
was  so  far  from  performing,  that  the  colony  was 
obliged  to  spare  him  three  hogsheads  of  corn  to 
victual  him  homeward.  In  short,  he  represented 
Smith's  opposition  as  a mere  device  to  hinder 
his  journey,  that  he  might  himself  effect  the  dis- 
covery ; and  he  said  that  his  cruelty  to  the  In- 
dians might  well  be  a means  to  hinder  these 
designs,  and  to  make  them  seek  revenge. 
Smith's  opinion  being  therefore  overruled  by 
the  unanimous  voice  of  the  council,  all  other 
works  and  designs  were  laid  aside,  and  an  hun- 
dred and  twenty  chosen  men  appointed  for 
Newport’s  guard  on  the  expedition. 

‘‘But  Smith,  to  clear  himself  of  these  suspi- 
cions, and  to  show  that  the  Indians  were  not  so 
desperate  as  was  pretended  by  Newport,  and 
how  willing  he  was  to  assist,  as  far  as  he  could, 
undertook  himself  to  carry  their  message  to 
Powhatan,  and  to  invite  him  to  Jamestown  to ' 
receive  his  presents;  and  taking  with  him  only 
Captain  Waldo  and  three  more,  he  went  across 
by  land,  about  twelve  miles  to  Werowocomoco, 
where  he  passed  the  river  in  an  Indian  canoe. 
Powhatan,  being  thirty  miles  off,  was  immedi- 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  125 

ately  sent  for;  and  in  the  mean  time,  Pocahon- 
tas and  her  women  entertained  him  with  a 
strange  mask  and  barbarian  piece  of  revelry, 
and  feasted  them  with  all  the  savage  dainties 
they  could  devise,  The  next  day  Powhatan 
came,  and  Smith  delivered  his  message,  together 
with  Na montack,  his  servant,  whom  he  had 
sent  to  England.  And  he  desired  him  to  come 
to  his  father  Newport,  to  receive  his  presents, 
and  to  enter  upon  measures  for  their  effectual 
revenge  against  the  Manakins.  To  this  that 
subtle  barbarian  answered;  ‘That  if  their  king 
had  sent  him  any  presents,  he  also  was  a king, 
and  that  was  his  land:  that  he  would  stay  eight 
days  to  receive  them : that  Newport  ought  to 
come  to  him,  and  not  he  to  go  to  their  fort, 
wrhich  was  too  foolish  a bait  to  be  taken:  that 
as  to  the  Manakins,  he  could  revenge  his  own 
wrongs;  and  for  any  salt  water  beyond  the 
mountains,  he  told  him,  that  all  the  relations 
they  had  received  from  his  people  were  false/ 
Whereupon  he  began  to  draw  plots  upon  the 
ground,  according  to  his  discourse,  of  all  those 
regions.  Many  other  compli mental  discourses 
passed  between  them;  and  so  Smith  returned 
with  his  answer  to  Jamestown. 

“Hereupon  the  presents  were  sent  round  by 
water,  and  the  captains  wTent  across  by  land, 
w7ith  a guard  of  fifty  men.  All  being  met  at 
Werowocomoco,  the  next  day  w7as  appointed 
for  his  coronation.  Then  the  presents  were 
brought;  his  bason  and  ewer,  bed  and  furniture, 
wrere  set  up;  and  his  scarlet  cloak  and  apparel, 
il* 


126  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

with  much  ado,  put  on  him,  being  persuaded  by 
Namontack  that  they  would  not  hurt  him.  But 
a great  coii  and  trouble  there  was  to  make  him 
kneel,  to  receive  his  crown.  He  neither  knew 
the  majesty  of  a crown,  nor  the  meaning  of 
bending  the  knee,  which  obliged  them  to  use  so 
many  persuasions,  examples  and  instructions, 
as  tired  them  all.  At  last,  by  leaning  hard  on 
his  shoulders,  he  stooped  a little,  and  three,  being 
ready  with  the  crown,  put  it  on  his  head;  when, 
by  the  warning  of  a pistol,  the  boats  were  pre- 
pared with  such  a volley  of  shot,  that  the  king 
started  up  in  a horrible  fright,  till  he  saw  all  was 
well.  Then  recollecting  himself,  to  return  their 
kindness,  he  gave  his  old  shoes  and  mantle  to 
Captain  Newport  ; and  finding  him  determined 
to  discover  the  Manakins,  he  did  his  utmost  to 
divert  him  from  his  purpose,  and  refused  to  lend 
him  either  men  or  guides,  except  Namontack. 
And  so,  after  some  slight  compliments  on  both 
sides,  in  requital  for  his  presents,  he  gave  New- 
port a heap  of  ears  of  corn,  which  might  contain 
seven  or  eight  bushels,  and  much  more  was 
purchased  in  the  town,  with  which  they  returned 
to  the  fort  at  Jamestown. 

“ Immediately  upon  their  return,  Captain  New- 
port, with  an  hundred  and  twenty  chosen  men, 
led  by  Captain  Waldo,  Lieutenant  Percy,  Captain 
Wynne,  Mr.  West,  and  Mr.  Scrivener,  set  for- 
ward for  the  discovery  of  the  Manakins;  leav- 
ing the  president  at  the  fort,  with  eighty  or 
ninety  weak  and  sickly  men,  to  load  the  ship. 
Arriving  at  the  falls,  they  marched  by  land 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  127 

about  forty  miles,  and  found  a very  fair,  fertile, 
well- watered  country.  Two  towns  of  the  Man- 
akins  they  discovered,  situate  on  the  south  side 
of  the  river,  The  people  used  them  neither 
well  nor  ill;  yet,  for  their  security,  they  took 
one  of  their  petty  kings,  and  led  him  bound,  to 
conduct  them  the  way.  In  their  return,  they 
spent  some  time  in  searching  for  mines,  having 
with  them  one  William  Callicut,  a refiner,  for 
that  purpose.  From  the  crust  of  earth,  which 
they  dug,  he  persuaded  them  that  he  extracted 
some  small  quantity  of  silver.  With  this  poor 
trial,  they  returned  down  the  same  path  they 
went  to  the  falls;  where  the  Indians  feigned  that 
many  ships  were  come  into  the  bay  to  kill  the 
English  at  Jamestown.  But  as  for  their  corn, 
they  hid  it  in  the  woods,  and  could  by  no 
means  be  induced  to  trade.  And  being  thus 
deluded  and  disappointed,  they  returned  to 
Jamestown,  half  sick,  and  all  complaining,  being 
sadly  harassed  with  toil,  famine  and  discontent. 

“No  sooner  were  they  landed,  but  the  presi- 
dent dispersed  as  many  as  were  able,  some  to 
make  glass,  and  others  for  pitch,  tar,  and  soap- 
ashes.  Leaving  them  at  the  fort,  under  the 
council's  care  and  oversight,  he  himself  carried 
thirty  about  five  miles  down  the  river,  to  learn 
to  cut  down  trees,  make  clapboard,  and  lie  in 
the  woods.  Among  these  he  chose  Gabriel 
Beadle  and  John  Russell,  two  fine  and  proper 
gentlemen  of  the  last  supply.  These  were,  at 
first,  strange  diversions  for  men  of  pleasure. 
Yet  they  all  lodged,  eat  and  drank,  worked  or 


128  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

played,  only  as  the  president  himself  did ; and 
all  things  were  carried  so  pleasantly,  that  within 
a week  they  became  masters,  and  thirty  or  forty 
of  such  voluntary  gentlemen  would  have  done 
more  in  a day,  than  an  hundred  of  the  rest,  who 
must  be  driven  to  it  by  compulsion.  Being 
inured  to  labour  by  these  means,  they  soon  made 
it  their  delight  to  hear  the  trees  thunder  as  they 
fell ; and  afterwards  became  very  hardy,  useful, 
and  resolute  men,  especially  Mr.  Russel.  But 
the  axes  often  blistering  their  tender  fingers, 
they  would,  at  every  third  stroke,  drown  the 
echo,  with  a loud  volley  of  oaths;  to  remedy 
| which  sin,  the  president  ordered  every  man’s 
oaths  to  be  numbered,  and,  at  night,  for  every 
oath,  to  have  a can  of  water  poured  down  his 
sleeve;  which  so  washed  and  drenched  the 
offender  that,  in  a short  time,  an  oath  was  not 
heard  in  a week. 

“In  the  mean  while,  Mr.  Scrivener,  Captain 
Waldo,  and  Captain  Wynne,  at  the  fort,  each, 
in  their  several  way,  carefully  regarded  their 
charge.  But  when  the  president  returned,  see- 
ing the  time  consumed,  and  no  provision  got, 
and  that  the  ship  lay  idle  at  a great  charge,  and 
did  nothing,  he  immediately  embarked  in  the 
discovery  barge,  taking  with  him  eighteen  men 
and  another  boat,  and  leaving  orders  with  the 
council  to  send  Lieutenant  Percy  after  him,  with 
the  next  barge  that  arrived  at  the  fort.  Going 
into  Chickahominv,  the  Indians  were  surly,  and 
knowing  his  wants,  with  much  scorn  and  inso- 
: lence,  refused  to  trade.  But  the  president,  per- 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  129 

ceiving  it  was  Powhatan’s  policy  to  starve  the 
English,  told  them  that  he  came  not  so  much  for 
corn,  as  to  revenge  his  own  captiyity  and  the 
death  of  his  two  men;  which  he  pretended  to 
attribute  to  them.  And  so  landing  his  men,  and 
making  ready  to  charge  them,  they  immediately 
fled.  Soon  after,  they  sent  ambassadors  with 
corn,  fish,  fowl,  and  whatever  else  they  had,  to 
make  their  peace.  Their  corn  being  that  year 
but  bad,  they  complained  extremely  of  their  own 
wants,  yet  freighted  their  boats  with  an  hundred 
bushels,  and  in  like  manner  Lieutenant  Percy’s, 
that  not  long  after  arrived.  Returning  to  James- 
town, the  colony  was  much  pleased  and  revived 
by  this  seasonable  supply.  Yet  such  was  the 
malice  and  envy  of  some,  that  they  had  rather 
hazard  a starving,  than  that  Smith’s  endeavors 
should  prove  so  much  more  effectual  than  theirs. 
And  Newport  and  Ratcliffe  had  projected,  not 
only  to  depose  him,  but  to  keep  him  out  of  the 
fort,  under  pretence  that,  being  president,  he  had 
left  his  place  and  the  fort  without  their  consent. 
But  their  horns  were  too  short,  and  they  them- 
selves narrowly  escaped  a greater  mischief. 

“All  this  while,  their  old  tavern,  the  ship, 
made  as  much  of  all  them  that  had  either  money 
or  ware  as  could  be  desired.  By  this  time,  they 
were  become  perfect  on  all  sides,  the  sailors,  the 
soldiers,  and  the  Indians;  and  much  more  care 
was  taken  to  maintain  their  private  and  per- 
nicious trade,  than  to  provide  things  necessary 
for  the  colony.  Newport  and  his  mariners  had 
so  many  private  factors  at  the  fort,  that  in  six 


130  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

or  seven  weeks,  of  two  or  three  hundred  axes, 
hoes,  pick-axes,  and  other  instruments  for  the 
use  of  the  colony,  scarce  twenty  could  be  found ; 
and  for  pike-heads,  powder,  shot,  or  any  thing 
else  they  could  steal,  they  knew  well  how  to 
convey  them  secretly  to  trade  with  the  Indians 
for  furs,  baskets,  young  beasts,  and  other  such- 
like commodities.  So  that,  although  Virginia 
afforded  no  commodities  for  those  who  were  at 
the  expense  of  the  settlement,  yet  these  men 
found  means,  by  these  indirect  methods,  of  driv- 
ing on  a very  profitable  trade.  And  thus,  by 
their  false  excuses,  informations,  and  advices  in 
England,  and  by  their  unlawful  trade  here,  the 
adventurers  were  cozened,  and  the  action  almost 
overthrown.  Upon  this  account,  therefore,  as 
well  as  under  pretence  that  his  orders  were  not 
to  return  without  a lump  of  gold,  a certainty  of 
the  South  Sea,  or  one  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh’s 
lost  company,  the  president  had  once  determined 
to  send  away  the  ship,  and  to  oblige  Newport  to 
stay  one  year  in  the  country,  to  learn  to  speak 
of  his  own  experience.  But  upon  his  submission 
and  acknowledgment,  this  punishment  was  re- 
mitted, and  he  was  suffered  to  return  to  England 
in  the  ship,  where,  it  is  not  to  be  doubted,  but 
that  he  represented  matters  in  the  worst  light. 

“It  is  certain,  that  the  treasurer  and  council 
in  England  were  greatly  disappointed  in  their 
hopes.  For  they  expected,  upon  their  discov- 
eries in  America,  to  have  speedy  returns  in  gold 
and  silver,  and  such  other  rich  commodities  as 
the  Spaniards  found  at  their  first  arrival.  # * # 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  131 

But  however  free  they  might  be  from  blame,  the 
council  in  England  were  certainly  very  much 
fretted  with  the  disappointment,  and  by  this  ship 
wrote  the  president  a very  angry  letter.  They 
complained  of  the  vain  hopes  they  had  been  fed 
with,  and  very  small  proofs;  and  of  their  factions 
and  silly  projects  about  dividing  the  country, 
concerning  which  the  late  president  and  his  fac- 
tion had  written  some  idle  story  to  the  earl  of 
Salisbury,  at  that  time  chief  minister  of  state. 
And  they  threatened,  unless  the—  charge  of 
this  voyage,  amounting  to  about  two  thousand 
pounds,  was  defrayed  by  the  ship’s  return,  they 
should  be  deserted,  and  left  to  remain  here  as 
banished  men.  To  this  letter  Captain  Smith  i 
gave  a very  plain  and  soldierly  answer  by  the 
ship,  which  was  at  length  dispatched,  with  the 
trials  of  pitch,  tar,  glass,  frankincense,  and  soap- 
ashes,  and  with  what  wainscot  and  clapboard 
could  be  provided.”* 

As  a document  well  worthy  preservation  for 
all  time,  and  as  a matter  of  justice  to  the  char- 
acter of  the  writer,  we  copy  verbatim  this  manly 
vindication  from  the  mean  aspersions  of  his 
enemies : 

‘‘Right  Honorable,  &c.  : I received  your  Letter, 
wherein  you  write,  that  our  minds  are  so  set  vpon 
faction,  and  idle  conceits  in  diuiding  the  Country 
without  your  consents,  and  that  we  feed  You  but  with 
ifs  and  ands,  hopes,  and  some  few  proofes;  as  if  we 
would  keepe  the  mystery  of  the  businesse  to  our 

* Stith’s  History  of  Virginia. 


132  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

selues:  and  that  we  must  expressly  follow  your  in- 
structions sent  by  Captain  Newport : the  charge  of 
whose  voyage  amounts  to  neare  two  thousand  pounds, 
the  which  if  we  cannot  defray  by  the  Ships  returne, 
we  are  alike  to  remain  as  banished  men.  To  these 
particulars  I humbly  entreat  your  pardons  if  I offend 
you  with  my  rude  Answer. 

“For  our  factions,  vnlesse  you  would  haue  me  run 
away  and  leaue  the  Country,  I cannot  prevent  them : 
because  I do  make  many  stay  that  would  els  fly  any 
whether.  For  the  idle  Letter  sent  to  my  Lord  of 
Salisbury,  by  the  President  and  his  confederats,  for 
diuiding  the  Country,  &c.  What  it  was  I know  not, 
for  you  saw  no  hand  of  mine  to  it;  nor  euer  dream’t 
I of  any  such  matter.  That  we  feed  you  with  hopes, 
&c.  Though  I be  no  scholer,  I am  past  a schoole- 
boy ; and  I desire  but  to  know,  what  either  you,  and 
these  here  doe  know,  but  that  I haue  learned  to  tell 
you  by  the  continuall  hazard  of  my  life.  I haue  not 
concealed  from  you  any  thing  I know  ; but  I feare 
some  cause  you  to  beleeue  much  more  then  is  true. 

“Expressly  to  follow  your  directions  by  Captaine 
Newport , though  they  be  performed,  I was  directly 
against  it;  but  according  to  our  Commission,  I was 
content  to  be  overruled  by  the  maior  part  of  the 
Councell,  I feare  to  the  hazard  of  vs  all ; which  now 
is  generally  confessed  when  it  is  too  late.  Onely 
Captaine  Winne  and  Captaine  Waldo  I haue  sworne 
of  the  Councell,  and  Crowned  Powhatan  according 
to  your  instructions. 

“For  the  charge  of  this  voyage  of  two  or  three 
thousand  pounds,  we  haue  not  receiued  the  value  of 
an  hundred  pounds.  And  for  the  quartred  Boat  to  be 
borne  by  the  Souldiers  over  the  Falles,  Newport  had 
120  of  the  best  men  he  could  chuse.  If  he  had 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  133 

burnt  her  to  ashes,  one  might  haue  carried  her  in  a 
bag,  but  as  she  is,  fiue  hundred  cannot,  to  a naviga- 
ble place  aboue  the  Falles.  And  for  him  at  that  time 
to  find  in  the  South  Sea,  a Mine  of  gold ; or  any  of 
them  sent  by  Sir  Walter  Raleigh : at  our  Consulta- 
tion I told  them  was  as  likely  as  the  rest.  But  during 
this  great  discovery  of  thirtie  myles,  (which  might  as 
well  haue  beene  done  by  one  man,  and  much  more, 
for  the  value  of  a pound  of  Copper  at  a seasonable 
tyme)  they  had  the  Pinnace  and  all  the  Boats  with 
them,  but  one  that  remained  with  me  to  serue  the 
Fort.  In  their  absence  I followed  the  new  begun 
workes  of  Pitch  and  Tarre,  Glasse,  Sopeashes,  Clap- 
boord,  whereof  some  small  quantities  we  haue  sent 
you.  But  if  you  rightly  consider,  what  an  infinite 
toyle  it  is  in  Russia  and  Swethland , where  the  woods 
are  proper  for  naught  els,  and  though  there  be  the 
helpe  both  of  man  and  beast  in  those  ancient  Com- 
mon-wealths, which  many  an  hundred  yeares  haue 
vsed  it,  yet  thousands  of  those  poore  people  can  scarce 
get  necessaries  to  Hue,  but  from  hand  to  mouth.  And 
though  your  Factors  there  can  buy  as  much  in  a 
week  as  will  fraught  you  a ship,  or  as  much  as  you 
please ; you  must  not  expect  from  vs  any  such  mat- 
ter, which  are  but  as  many  of  ignorant  miserable 
soules,  that  are  scarce  able  to  get  wherewith  to  liue, 
and  defend  our  selues  against  the  inconstant  Salvages: 
finding  but  here  and  there  a tree  fit  for  the  purpose, 
and  want  all  things  els  the  Russians  haue.  For  the 
Coronation  of  Powhatan , by  whose  advice  you  sent 
him  such  presents,  I know  not;  but  this  giue  me 
leaue  to  tell  you,  I feare  they  will  be  the  confusion 
of  vs  all  ere  we  heare  from  you  againe.  At  your 
ships  arrivall,  the  Salvages  harvest  was  newly  gath- 
ered, and  we  going  to  buy  it,  our  owne  not  being 
12 


134  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


halfe  sufficient  for  so  great  a number.  As  for  the 
two  ships  loading  of  Corne  Newport  promised  to  pro- 
, vide  vs  from  Powhatan,  he  brought  us  but  fourteene 
Bushels;  and  from  the  Monacans  nothing,  but  the 
most  of  the  men  sicke  and  neare  famished.  From 
your  Ship  we  had  not  provision  in  victuals  worth 
twenty  pound,  and  we  are  more  then  two  hundred  to 
Hue  vpon  this:  the  one  halfe  sicke,  the  other  little 
| better.  For  the  Saylers  (I  confesse)  they  daily  make 
good  cheare,  but  our  dyet  is  a little  meale  and  water, 
and  not  sufficient  of  that.  Though  there  be  fish  in 
the  Sea,  foules  in  the  ayre,  and  Beasts  in  the  woods, 
their  bounds  are  so  large,  they  so  wilde,  and  we  so 
weake  and  ignorant,  we  cannot  much  trouble  them. 
Captaine  Newport  we  much  suspect  to  be  the  Author 
of  those  inventions  Now  that  you  should  know  I 
haue  made  you  as  great  a discovery  as  he,  for  lesse 
charge  then  he  spendeth  you  every  meale;  I haue 
sent  you  this  Mappe  of  the  Bay  and  Rivers,  with  an 
annexed  Relation  of  the  Countries  and  Nations  that 
inhabit  them,  as  you  may  see  at  large.*  Also  two 
barrels  of  stones,  and  such  as  I take  to  be  good  Iron 
ore  at  the  least;  so  divided,  as  by  their  notes  you 
may  see  in  what  places  I found  them.  The  Soul- 
diers  say  many  of  your  officers  maintaine  their  fam- 
ilies out  of  that  you  sent  vs : and  that  Newport  hath 
an  hundred  pounds  a yeare  for  carrying  newes.  For  j 
every  master  you  haue  yet  sent  can  find  the  way  as 
i well  as  he,  so  that  an  hundred  pounds  might  be  spared, 
which  is  more  then  we  haue  all,  that  helps  to  pay 
1 him  wages.  Cap.  Ratliffe  is  now  called  Sicklemore , 
a poore  counterfeited  Imposture.  I haue  sent  you 

* Such  was  the  accuracy  of  this  map,  that  it  was,  for 
about  two  centuries,  the  original  from  which  all  later  maps 
and  descriptions  were  copied. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


135 


him  home,  least  the  company  should  cut  his  throat. 
— What  he  is,  now  every  one  can  tell  you ; if  he 
and  Archer  returne  againe,  they  are  sufficient  to 
keepe  vs  alwayes  in  factions.  When  you  send  againe 
I entreat  you  rather  send  but  thirty  Carpenters,  hus- 
bandmen, gardiners,  fisher  men,  blacksmiths,  masons, 
and  diggers  vp  of  trees’  roots,  well  provided,  then  a 
thousand  of  such  as  we  haue  : for  except  wee  be  able 
both  to  lodge  them,  and  feed  them,  the  most  will  con- 
sume with  want  of  necessaries  before  they  can  be 
made  good  for  any  thing.  Thus  if  you  please  to  con- 
sider this  account,  and  the  vnnecessary  wages  to 
Captaine  Newport , or  his  ships  so  long  lingering  and 
staying  here  (for  notwithstanding  his  boasting  to 
leaue  vs  victuals  for  1*2  moneths,  though  we  had  89 
by  this  discovery  lame  and  sicke,  and  but  a pinte  of 
Corne  a day  for  a man,  we  were  constrained  to  giue 
him  three  hogsheads  of  that  to  victuall  him  homeward) 
or  yet  to  send  into  Germany  or  Poleland  for  glasse- 
men  and  the  rest,  till  we  be  able  to  sustaine  ourselues, 
and  releeue  them  when  they  come.  It  were  better 
to  giue  fiue  hundred  pound  a tun  for  those  grosse 
Commodities  in  Denmarke , then  send  for  them  hither, 
till  more  necessary  things  be  provided.  For  in  over- 
toyling  our  weake  and  vnskilfull  bodies,  to  satisfie 
this  desire  of  present  profit,  we  can  scarce  ever  re- 
cover our  selues  from  one  Supply  to  another.  And 
I humbly  intreat  you  hereafter,  let  vs  know  what  we 
should  receive,  and  not  stand  to  the  Saylers  courtesie 
to  leaue  vs  what  they  please,  els  you  may  charge  vs 
what  you  will,  but  we  not  you  with  any  thing.  These 
are  the  causes  that  haue  kept  vs'in  Virginia  from  laying 
such  a foundation,  that  ere  this  might  haue  given  much 
better  content  and  satisfaction  ; but  as  yet  you  must  not 
looke  for  any  profitable  returnes : so  I humbly  rest.” 


136  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Famine— Desperate  Efforts  to  procure  Supplies— First  Mar- 
riage in  America— House  for  Powhatan-— Smith  and  others 
embark  on  an  Adventurous  Expedition— Christmas  spent 
among'  the  Indians— Arrival  at  Werowocomoco— Interview 
of  Smith  and  Powhatan-— Treachery  of  the  Germans  — 
Crafty  Speech  of  Powhatan— Jeopardy  of  Smith  and  his 
Companions— Duplicity  of  the  Indians— Pocahontas  warns 
Smith  of  his  Dang-er:  his  Vigilance : Departure— Arms 
stolen  by  the  Germans  for  Powhatan— Arrival  of  Smith  at 
Pamunkey— Deception  of  Opechancanough— Smith  chal- 
lenges him  to  Single  Combat— Seizes  him,  and  obtains  his 
Demands-— Serious  Accident  at  Jamestown— Smith’s  Return 
—Disorderly  State  of  Affairs— German  Deserters  detected 
—Encounter  of  Smith  and  Paspahey : Escape  of  the  latter, 
and  Subsequent  Meeting— Indian  Oratory— Compact  for 
Peace. 

The  departure  of  Newport  and  his  ship  was 
hailed  as  a great  relief  by  the  judicious  portion 
of  the  settlers,  who  had  long  been  entertaining 
apprehensions  of  famine,  and  now  sedulously  set 
to  work  to  avert  that  calamity.  Mr.  Scrivener 
who  had  previously  been  sent  to  Werowoco- 
moco on  a trading  voyage,  found  the  Indians 
“more  ready  to  fight  than  to  trade;”  but  his 
vigilance  disconcerted  their  plots,  and  he  ob- 
tained three  or  four  hogsheads  of  corn,  with 
which  he  returned  to  Jamestown.  He  soon 
after  accompanied  the  president  and  Captain 
Wynne  to  Nansamond,  which  nation  at  first 
denied  “not  only  the  four  hundred  baskets  of 
corn  they  had  promised,  but  any  trade  at  all. 
They  excused  themselves  on  account  of  their 
corn’s  being  almost  spent,  and  because  they 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  137 

were  commanded  by  the  double-dealing  Pow- 
hatan to  keep  what  was  left,  and  not  to  let  the 
English  even  enter  their  river.  The  president, 
finding  nothing  was  to  be  done  in  the  way  of 
peace,  resolved  to  use  force.  At  the  first  onset, 
the  Indians  all  fled,  without  shooting  an  arrow. 
Then  marching  up  to  their  houses,  they  set  fire 
to  the  first  they  came  to.  When  the  Indians 
perceived  that,  they  offered,  if  they  would  make 
no  more  spoil,  to  give  them  half  the  corn  they 
had.  Accordingly,  before  night,  they  loaded 
their  three  boats;  and  for  sparing  them  this 
year,  they  promised  to  plant  corn  purposely  for 
them  the  next.  With  this  they  returned  to 
Jamestown,  about  the  time  that  John  Laydon 
was  married  to  Anne  Burras;  which  was  the 
first  Christian  marriage  that  ever  was  in  Virginia. 
But  Smith  staid  not  long  at  the  fort.  For  he 
fitted  himself  and  Captain  Waldo  out  imme- 
diately with  two  barges,  and  made  a voyage  up 
the  river.  From  Wyanoake,  and  all  parts 
thereabouts,  he  found  the  Indians  fled;  and 
therefore  hasting  up  higher,  he  then  first  discov- 
ered the  river  and  people  of  Appamatox.  The 
little  corn  they  had  was  equally  divided,  and  the 
president  gave  them  copper  for  it,  and  such 
other  toys  as  fully  satisfied  them.  At  the  same 
time,  Mr.  Scrivener  and  Lieutenant  Percy  went 
abroad  in  quest  of  provisions,  but  could  find 
nothing. 

“About  this  time,  the  president  was  invited 
by  Powhatan  to^come  to  him;  and  he  promised 
to  load  his  ship  with  corn,  provided  he  would 
12# 


138 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


send  some  workmen  to  build  him  a house,  and 
would  give  him  a grind-stone,  fifty  swords,  some 
muskets,  a cock  and  a hen,  with  much  copper 
and  beads.  The  president  was  not  ignorant  of 
his  devices  and  subtlety;  yet  was  unwilling  to 
neglect  any  opportunity  of  getting  provisions, 
and  resolved,  sooner  than  fail,  to  take  him  and 
all  his  store  by  surprise.  To  this  end,  he  took 
order  with  Captain  Waldo,  whom  he  knew  to 
be  sure  in  time  of  danger,  to  second  him  if  need 
required.  But  Captain  Wynne  and  Mr.  Scriv- 
ener did  their  utmost  to  hinder  their  project. 
For  Scrivener's  strict  friendship  with  Captain 
Smith  was  now  much  cooled;  and  he  was 
thought  to  join  with  some  others  in  a plot  to 
ruin  him  in  England.  But  the  president,  whom 
no  eloquence  could  persuade  to  starve,  sent  off 
two  Englishmen  before  by  land,  and  four  Ger- 
mans, to  build  the  house  for  Powhatan  against 
his  arrival.  And  then,  having  left  Mr.  Scriv- 
ener his  substitute,  he  set  forward  with  the  bark 
and  two  barges,  manned  only  with  such  as  offered 
themselves  to  go  voluntarily  upon  the  service. 
In  the  discovery-barge  went  himself,  Mr.  Ralegh 
Croshaw,  John  Russel,  and  several  other  gen- 
tlemen and  soldiers ; and  Mr.  William  Phitti- 
place  as  captain,  Lieutenant  Percy,  Mr.  Francis 
West,  Mr.  Robert  Ford,  clerk  of  the  council, 
with  many  others,  went  on  board  the  bark. 

“The  29th  of  December  they  left  Jamestown, 
being  victualled  only  for  three  or  four  days. 
That  night  they  lodged  at  Warrasqueake,  where 
the  president  got  sufficient  provision.  The  king 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  139 

of  that  town  did  his  utmost  to  divert  him  from 
seeing  Powhatan ; but  finding  he  could  not  pre- 
vail, he  told  them  that  Powhatan  would  use  them 
kindly,  although  he  had  sent  for  them  only  to 
cut  their  throats.  He  therefore  advised  him  not 
to*  trust  him,  and  to  be  sure  to  give  him  no  op- 
portunity of  seizing  his  arms.  The  president 
thanked  him  for  his  good  counsel;  and  having 
obtained  guides  from  him  to  the  Chowanocks, 
a nation  dwelling  in  the  fork  of  Chowan,  between 
Nottoway  and  Meherrin  rivers,  he  sent  Michael 
Sicklemore,  a very  valiant,  honest,  and  painful 
soldier,  with  presents  to  that  king;  but  chiefly 
to  look  for  silk-grass,  and  to  enquire  after  Sii  I 
W alter  Raleigh’s  lost  colony.  The  next  night 
they  lodged  at  Kicquotan,  and  were  detained 
there  six  or  seven  days  by  the  extreme  wind, 
rain,  frost,  and  snow.  This  obliged  them  to 
keep  their  Christmas  among  the  savages;  and 
they  were  never  more  merry  in  their  lives, 
lodged  by  better  fires,  or  fed  with  greater  plenty 
of  good  bread,  oyslers,  fish,  flesh,  and  wild-fowl 
Departing  thence,  they  arrived  on  the  12th  of 
January,  1609,  through  various  accidents,  at 
Werowocomoco;  where  they  found  the  river 
frozen  near  half  a mile  from  the  shore.  But  the 
president,  running  his  barge  up  as  far  as  he 
could  by  breaking  the  ice,  was  left  by  the  ebb 
upon  the  oozy  shoals.  In  this  dangerous  situa- 
tion, he  plunged  first  into  the  river  himself;  and 
by  his  example,  taught  them  to  march  near  mid- 
dle deep,  a flight-shot,  near  the  frozen  ooze. 
When  the  barge  should  float,  he  appointed  two 


140 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  CF 


or  three  to  return  her  aboard  the  bark , where 
they  soon  after  came  into  such  distress  for  want 
of  water,  that  the  river  being  salt,  they  were 
obliged  to  make  fresh  water  by  melting  the  ice. 

“The  president  and  his  company  quartered  in 
the  next  cabins  they  found,  and  sent  to  Pow- 
hatan for  provisions.  He  sent  them  plenty  of 
bread,  turkey,  and  venison;  and  the  next  day 
feasted  them  after  his  usual  manner.  But  he  pre- 
tended he  had  not  sent  for  them ; neither  had  he 
any  corn,  and  his  people  much  less;  and  soon 
began  to  be  importunate  with  them  to  be  gone. 
But  the  president  confronting  him  with  the  per- 
sons who  brought  the  message,  he  endeavored  to 
put  the  matter  off  with  a laugh,  and  asked  for  his 
commodities.  But  he  liked  nothing  except  guns 
and  swords,  and  valued  a basket  of  corn  higher 
than  a basket  of  copper ; saying,  he  could  rate  his 
corn,  but  not  the  copper.  Captain  Smith,  see- 
ing his  intent,  told  him  that  had  many  ways  to 
have  got  provisions,  but  relying  on  his  promises, 
he  had  neglected  all  to  satisfy  his  desire,  and  had 
sent  his  men  to  make  his  buildings,  whilst  his 
own  were  undone:  that  he  knew  he  had  en- 
grossed his  people’s  corn,  and  forbid  them  to 
trade;  thinking,  by  consuming  time,  to  consume 
them:  that  as  for  swords  and  guns,  he  had  none 
to  spare;  and  that  he  must  know  those  he  had 
could  keep  him  from  starving:  Yet  he  would 
neither  rob  nor  wrong  him,  nor  dissolve  that 
friendship  they  had  mutually  promised,  unless 
constrained  to  it  by  bad  usage.  The  king  list- 
ened attentively  to  this  discourse;  and  promised 


I 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  141 

that  both  he  and  his  people  should  spare  him 
what  they  could,  and  that  they  should  receive 
it  within  two  days.  ‘But/  says  he,  ‘I  have  some 
doubt  about  the  reason  of  your  coming  hither. 
I am  informed  from  many  hands  that  you  come, 
not  to  trade,  but  to  invade  my  people,  and  to 
possess  my  country.  This  makes  me  less  ready 
to  relieve  you,  and  frightens  my  people  from 
bringing  in  their  corn.  And  therefore,  to  ease 
them  of  that  fear,  leave  your  arms  aboard,  since 
they  are  needless  here,  w:here  we  are  all  friends, 
and  for  ever  Powhatans/ 

“In  these,  and  many  such  insidious  discourses, 
that  day  was  spent.  But  Captain  Smith  after- 
wards discovered  that  the  Germans  whom  he 
had  sent  to  build  Powhatan's  house,  finding  his 
plenty  and  the  w~ants  of  the  English,  and  think- 
ing it  scarce  possible  that  they  could  escape  both 
him  and  famine,  had,  to  gain  his  favor,  revealed 
to  him  all  they  knew  of  the  state  and  designs  of 
the  English,  and  advised  him  how  to  counteract 
and  prevent  them.  And  this  treachery  was  the 
more  odious  and  unsuspected,  because  the  pres- 
ident had  placed  one  of  them  as  a spy  upon 
Pow^hatan,  being  a man  of  judgment  and  resolu- 
tion, and  therefore  thought  most  proper  for  that 
employ.  And  as  he  was  sure  of  his  wages  for 
his  labor,  and  had  ever  been  well  used,  both  he 
and  his  countrymen,  there  wras  at  that  time 
little  doubt  concerning  his  honesty.  But  whilst 
they  expected  the  coming  in  of  the  country, 
they  wTangled  Pow^hatan  out  of  eighty  bushels 
of  corn  for  a copper  kettle;  which  the  president 


142  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

seeing  him  much  affect,  he  told  him  it  was  of 
much  greater  value,  yet  in  regard  of  his  scarcity, 
he  would  accept  that  quantity  at  present,  pro- 
vided he  should  have  as  much  more  the  next 
year,  or  the  Manakin  country.  Both  being 
satisfied  with  the  condition,  Powhatan  began  to 
expostulate  the  difference  of  peace  and  war, 
with  Captain  Smith,  after  this  manner: 

“He  told  him,  with  a vanity  usual  to  persons 
who  affect  to  be  thought  very  old,  that  he  had 
seen  the  death  of  all  his  people  thrice;  and  that 
not  one  of  these  three  generations  was  then 
living,  except  himself:  That  he  knew  the  differ- 
ence of  peace  and  war  better  than  any  in  his 
country;  That  he  was  now  grown  old,  and  must 
die  soon ; and  that  the  succession  must  descend, 
in  order,  to  his  brothers,  Opitchapan,  Opechan- 
canough,  and  Catataugh,  and  then  to  his  two 
sisters,  and  their  two  daughters.  He  wished 
their  experience  was  equal  to  his;  and  that 
Smith’s  love  to  them  might  be  no  less  than  his 
to  Smith.  He  asked  him  why  he  would  take 
that  by  force,  which  he  might  quickly  have  by 
love  ? Why  he  would  destroy  them  that  provided 
him  food?  and  what  he  could  get  by  war? 
For  they  could  hide  their  provisions,  and  fly 
into  the  woods;  and  then  he  must  consequently 
famish  by  wronging  his  friends.  He  desired  to 
know  the  reason  of  his  jealousy,  since  he  saw 
them  unarmed,  and  willing  to  supply  his  wants, 
if  he  would  come  in  a friendly  manner,  and 
not  with  swords  and  guns,  as  to  invade  an 
enemy.  And  he  told  him  that  he  was  not  so 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  143 

simple  as  not  to  know  it  was  better  to  eat  good 
meat,  lie  well,  and  sleep  quietly  with  his  women 
and  children;  to  laugh  and  be  merry  with  the 
English,  and,  being  their  friend,  to  have  copper, 
hatchets,  and  whatever  else  he  wanted;  than  to 
fly  from  all,  to  lie  cold  in  the  woods,  feed  upon 
acorns,  roots,  and  such  trash,  and  to  be  so  hunted, 
that  he  could  neither  rest,  eat,  or  sleep.  In  that 
circumstance,  his  tired  men  must  watch,  and  if 
a twig  did  but  break,  all  would  be  crying  out, 
‘Here  comes  Captain  Smith!’  and  so,  in  this 
miserable  manner  to  end  his  miserable  life; 
wdiich  might  likewise  soon  be  Captain  Smith’s 
fate  too,  through  his  rashness  and  unadvisedness. 
He  therefore  earnestly  exhorted  him  to  peacea- 
ble counsels;  and,  above  all,  insisted  that  the 
guns  and  swords — the  grand  cause  of  their 
jealousy  and  uneasiness — should  be  removed  and 
sent  away. 

“To  this  crafty  discourse  the  president  re- 
plied: That  it  wras  the  fashion  of  the  English 
always  to  wear  their  arms  like  their  clothes; 
and  that  they  wTould,  by  no  means,  part  with 
them:  that  his  people  came  frequently  to 

Jamestown,  and  wrere  entertained  with  their 
bows  and  arrows  without  any  exceptions : that 
if  the  English  had  intended  him  any  hurt,  they 
- could  long  since  have  effected  it,  as  was  evi- 
dent to  him.  and  all  the  world,  especially  con- 
sidering the  superiority  of  their  arms:"  that 
although  revenge  was  always  in  their  power, 
yet,  out  of  an  inclination  to  mercy  and  friend- 
ship, they  passed  over  the  daily  violations  of  the 


144  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

1 peace  by  his  subjects:  and  as  to  hiding  his  pro- 
visions, and  flying  into  the  woods,  he  told  him 
they  should  not  so  unadvisedly  starve  as  he 
imagined.  For  they  had  a rule  to  find  things 
hidden,  beyond  his  knowledge.  After  much 
more  discourse,  they  at  last  began  to  trade. 
But  the  king,  seeing  that  his  will  would  not  be 
! admitted  as  a law,  and  that  Smith  was  obstinate 
; not  to  dismiss  his  guard  or  disarm  his  men, 
| breathed  out  his  mind  once  more  in  this  man* 
| ner,  with  a sigh: 

“‘Captain  Smith,  I never  use  any  werowance 
so  kindly  as  yourself;  yet  from  you  I receive 
the  least  kindness  of  any.  Captain  Newport 
gave  me  swords,  copper,  clothes,  or  whatever 
else  I desired,  ever  accepting  what  I offered  him ; 
and  would  send  away  the  guns  when  requested. 
No  one  refuses  to  lie  at  my  feet,  or  do  what  I 
demand,  but  you  only.  Of  you  I can  have 
nothing  but  what  you  value  not,  and  yet  you 
will  have  whatsoever  you  please.  Captain  New- 
port you  call  father,  and  so  you  call  me ; but  I 
see,  in  spite  of  us  both,  you  will  do  what  you 
will,  and  we  must  both  study  to  humor  and  con- 
tent you.  But  if  you  intend  so  friendly  as  you 
say,  send  away  your  arms.  For  you  see  my 
undesigning  simplicity  and  friendship  cause  me 
thus  nakedly  to  forget  myself/ 

“ The  president,  perceiving  that  this  barbarian 
only  trifled  the  time  to  cut  his  throat,  resolved 
to  treat  him  in  his  own  way.  He  therefore 
procured  the  Indians  to  break  the  ice,  that  his 
boat  might  come  to  fetch  him  and  his  corn ; and 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  145 

at  the  same  time  gave  order  for  more  men  to 
come  ashore,  to  surprise  the  king.  In  the  mean 
while,  to  protract  the  time,  he  endeavored  to 
entertain  him  with  much  specious  and  fallacious 
dis-course,  promising  the  next  day  to  quit  his 
arms,  and  to  show,  by  trusting  to  his  word,  that 
he  loved  and  confided  in  him  as  a father.  But 
whilst  the  ice  was  breaking,  Powhatan  conveyed 
himself  away,  with  his  women,  children,  and 
luggage.  Yet,  to  avoid  suspicion,  he  left  two  or 
three  of  his  women  talking  with  the  president, 
whilst  he  secretly  ran  off,  and  his  men  as 
secretly  beset  the  house ; which  being  presently 
discovered,  the  president  issued  forth  with  his 
pistol,  sword  and  target.  At  his  first  shot,  those 
next  him  tumbled  one  over  another;  and  the 
rest  fled  nimbly  off,  some  one  way,  some  another. 
And  thus,  without  any  hurt,  only  accompanied 
| with  Mr.  John  Russel,  he  reached  the  main  body 
of  his  men.  But  when  the  Indians  perceived 
him  so  well  escaped,  they  used  their  utmost  art 
to  excuse  and  dissemble  the  matter.  Powhatan 
sent  him  a great  bracelet  and  chain  of  pearl,  by 
an  ancient  orator,  who  told  him  that  their  em- 
peror was  fled  for  fear  of  his  guns:  that  know- 
ing, when  the  ice  was  open,  there  would  come 
more  men  ashore,  he  had  sent  those  numbers 
whom  he  had  assaulted  only  to  guard  his  corn 
from  being  stole,  which  might  happen  without 
the  president’s  knowledge:  that  although  some 
were  hurt  by  his  mistake,  yet  Powhatan  was 
still  his  friend,  and  for  ever  w7ould  continue  so. 
And  he  desired,  since  the  ice  was  open,  that  he 
13 


146  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

I would  send  away  his  corn;  and,  if  he  expected 
I his  company,  that  he  would  also  send  away  his 
guns,  which  so  frighted  his  people,  that  they 
I were  afraid  to  bring  in  their  corn  as  he  had 
promised  they  should.  And  then  baskets  being 
provided  for  the  English  to  carry  their  corn  to 
j the  boats,  those  Indians  kindly  offered  their  ser- 
| vice  to  guard  their  arms  lest  they  should  be 
j stolen.  There  was  a great  number  of  goodly, 

| well-proportioned  fellows,  painted  and  grimmed 
j like  devils.  But  the  very  sight  of  the  English 
j cocking  their  matches,  and  being  ready  to  charge, 
i made  them  quit  their  bows  and  arrows  at  com- 
mand to  the  guard,  and  carry  down  the  corn 
upon  their  backs.  And  there  was  no  occasion 
to  importune  them  to  make  dispatch. 

“But  Powhatan  and  the  Germans  were  still 
eager  to  have  the  head  of  Captain  Smith.  For 
if  they  could  but  kill  him,  they  thought  all  would 
be  their  own.  And  therefore,  the  English  being 
staid  by  the  ebb  till  late  within  night,  the  king 
spent  his  time  in  making  ready  his  forces  to  sur- 
prise the  house  and  him  at  supper.  But  Poca- 
hontas. in  a very  dark  and  dismal  night,  came 
alone  through  the  woods,  and  told  the  president 
that  great  cheer  would  be  sent  them  soon ; but 
that  Powhatan,  with  all  the  power  he  could 
make,  would  come  after  to  kill  them  all,  if  those  j 
who  brought  the  victuals  could  not  effect  it  with 
their  own  arms  while  they  were  at  supper.  And 
therefore,  as  they  tendered  their  lives  she  ad- 
vised them  to  be  gone.  The  president  would 
have  given  her  such  things  as  he  knew  she  de- 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


147 


r 

lighted  in;  but,  with  tears  running  down  her 
cheeks,  she  refused  them,  saying  she  durst  not 
be  seen  to  have  any  of  them ; for  should  her 
father  know  it,  it  would  be  certain  and  imme- 
diate death  to  her.  And  so  she  ran  away  by  her- 
self as  she  came.  Within  less  than  an  hour  after 
came  eight  or  ten  lusty  fellows,  with  large  platters 
cf  venison  and  other  victuals,  and  they  were  very 
importunate  with  the  English  to  put  out  their 
matches,  pretending  their  smoke  made  them  sick. 
But  the  president  made  them  taste  of  every  dish; 
and  then  sent  some  of  them  back  to  Powhatan, 
to  bid  him  make  haste,  for  he  was  ready  for  his 
coming.  Soon  after  came  more  messengers,  to 
see  what  news;  and  not  long  after  them,  others. 
And  thus  was  the  time  spent,  with  equal  vigil- 
ancy  on  both  sides,  but  without  any  further  hurt. 
At  high  water  the  English  departed;  but,  to 
oblige  Powhatan,  they  left  him,  at  his  request, 
Edward  Brynton  to  kill  him  fowl,  and  the  Ger- 
mans, who  were  yet  unsuspected,  to  finish  his 
house. 

“They  had  no  sooner  set  sail,  but  Powhatan 
returned,  and  sent  two  of  the  Germans  to  James- 
town. They  pretended  to  Captain  Wynne  that 
all  things  were  well,  and  that  the  president  had 
occasion  for  their  arms;  and  therefore  they  de- 
sired new  ones,  with  some  spare  tools,  and  shift 
of  apparel,  all  which  were  readily  granted  them. 
During  their  loitering  there,  by  the  promise  of 
Powhatan’s  favor,  and  of  an  exemption  from  the 
miseries  which  would  certainly  happen  to  the 
colony,  they  drew  over  to  their  confederacy  six 


148  LIFE  AND  AD VENTURES  OF 

or  seven  more,  such  expert  thieves,  as  presently 
furnished  them  with  fifty  swords,  eight  muskets, 
eight  pikes,  and  powder  and  shot,  which  were 
speedily  conveyed  away  by  Indians  at  hand  for 
that  purpose.  The  other  German  Powhatan 
kept  as  a pledge,  whose  diligence  provided  him 
with  three  hundred  tomahawks,  or  Indian  hatch- 
ets. In  the  mean  time,  Edward  Brynton  and 
Thomas  Savage,  seeing  the  Germans  so  diligent 
to  accommodate  the  Indians  with  arms,  attempted 
to  make  their  escape  to  Jamestown.  But  they 
were  apprehended  and  brought  back,  and  ex- 
pected every  minute  to  be  put  to  death. 

“The  president  and  the  rest,  being  arrived  at 
Pamunkey,  were  entertained  some  days  by  the 
king,  with  great  feasting  and  mirth.  The  day 
appointed  to  begin  their  trade,  he  went  ashore 
with  Lieutenant  Percy,  Mr.  West,  Mr.  Russel, 
Mr.  Behethland,  Mr.  Croshaw,  Mr.  Powel,  Mr. 
Ford  and  others,  to  the  number  of  fifteen;  and 
going  up  to  Opechancanough’s  house,  a quarter 
of  a mile  from  the  river,  they  found  nothing  but 
a lame  fellow  and  a boy,  and  all  the  houses 
round  abandoned  and  stripped  of  every  thing. 
They  stayed  not  long  before  the  king  came,  and 
after  him  several  of  his  people  loaded  with  bows 
and  arrows.  But  their  commodities  were  so 
trifling,  and  those  held  at  such  a rate,  that  the 
president  began  with  the  king,  and  said,  that  the 
professions  of  his  tongue  were  proved  by  his 
actions  to  be  mere  deceit:  that  last  year  he 
kindly  freighted  his  vessel,  but  had  now  treach- 
erously invited  him,  with  a view  to  famish  and 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  149 

destroy  him : that  as  the  king  was  not  ignorant 
of  his  wants,  so  neither  was  he  of  the  king’s 
plenty,  of  which,  by  some  means,  he  must  have 
part.  And  he  told  him  it  was  highly  proper  and 
decent  for  kings,  above  all  others,  to  keep  their 
promise.  And  therefore,  showing  his  commodi- 
ties, he  offered  him  his  choice,  and  the  rest,  he 
said,  he  would  proportion  in  fit  bargains  for  his 
people.  Opechancanough  seemed  kindly  to  ac- 
cept his  offer;  and  the  better  to  color  his  designs 
sold  them  what  they  had  at  their  own  price, 
promising  the  next  day  more  company  better 
provided. 

“The  next  day,  the  president,  with  the  same 
fifteen,  marched  up  to  the  king’s  house,  where 
they  found  four  or  five  men  newly  arrived,  with 
each  a great  basket.  Soon  after  came  the  king, 
and  putting  on  a strained  cheerfulness  he  enter- 
tained them  in  discourse,  about  the  great  pains 
he  had  been  taking  to  keep  his  promise,  till  Mr. 
Russel  brought  in  news  that  at  least  seven  hun- 
dred Indians,  well  armed,  had  environed  the 
house,  and  beset  the  fields.  The  president,  see- 
ing some  of  the  company  greatly  dismayed  at 
the  thought  of  such  a multitude,  told  them  that 
he  was  less  concerned  at  the  danger  and  number 
of  the  enemy,  than  at  the  malicious  representa- 
tions which  the  council  and  their  open-mouthed 
minions  would  make  to  England  of  his  breaking 
the  peace:  that  he  alone  was  once  assaulted  by 
three  hundred;  and  had  it  not  been  for  an  acci- 
dent, would  have  made  his  way  good  among 
them  all;  that  they  were  now  sixteen,  and  the 
13* 


! 


150  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

enemy  but  seven  hundred  at  the  most.  And 
therefore  he  desired  them  to  fight  like  men,  and 
not  die  like  sheep.  For  if  they  dared  to  follow 
his  example,  and  to  do  as  he  did,  he  doubted  not, 
by  God's  assistance,  to  extricate  them  out  of  the 
present  difficulty  and  danger.  The  time  not 
permitting  any  argument,  they  all  cheerfully 
vowed  to  execute  whatever  he  attempted  or  die. 
But  that  they  might  not  fight  for  nothing,  or  be 
even  ruined  and  starved  by  their  victory,  the 
president  told  Opechancanough  that  he  saw  his 
plot  to  murder  him,  but  he  feared  it  not:  that 
their  men  had  done  no  harm  but  by  their  direc- 
tions: that  therefore,  if  each  of  his  men  would 
bring  a basket  of  corn,  he  would  stake  against  it 
i the  value  in  copper,  and  they  two  would  go  over 
into  the  island  in  the  river  against  that  place, 
and  decide  the  matter  by  single  combat:  that  he 
should  have  his  choice,  and  all  advantage  of 
weapons:  and  that  the  conqueror  should  have 
all,  and  be  lord  and  master  over  all  their  men. 

“But  duelling  in  the  fair  and  open  field  is  not 
the  manner  of  the  Indians.  Their  chief  valor 
consists  in  way-laying  and  murdering  the  unsus-  'j 
pecting  and  unprovided,  or  perhaps  the  weak 
and  helpless,  Neither  had  Opechancanough 
such  regard  for  the  lives  of  his  subjects,  as  to 
save  them  from  danger  at  the  hazard  of  his  own.  j 
He  therefore  kindly  endeavored  to  appease  the  j 
president's  anger  and  suspicion  by  a present  at 
the  door,  which  he  entreated  him  to  accept. 
This  was  only  to  draw  him  out,  where  the  bait 
was  guarded  with  two  hundred  men,  besides 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


151 


thirty  which  lay  behind  a great  tree,  fallen  across, 
with  each  his  arrow  notched,  ready  to  shoot. 
But  the  president,  having  discovered  the  treach- 
ery, seized  the  king,  in  the  midst  of  his  men,  by 
his  long  lock  of  hair,  and  presented  his  pistol, 
ready  cocked,  to  his  breast.  Thus  he  led  him, 
trembling  and  half  dead  with  fear,  among  his 
people,  who  were  easily  induced  to  throw  down 
their  arms,  and  to  deliver  the  king’s  vambrace, 
[shield]  bow,  and  arrows;  little  dreaming  that 
any  one  durst  to  use  their  king  in  that  manner. 
And  now  Opechancanough,  to  rescue  himself, 
bestowed  his  presents  in  serious  sadness,  and 
his  subjects,  being  upbraided  and  threatened  by 
the  president  in  a smart  and  angry  speech,  mixed 
with  some  expressions  of  love  and  confidence, 
cast  away  their  bows  and  arrows,  and  men, 
women,  and  children  brought  in  their  commodi- 
ties. For  two  or  three  hours  they  so  thronged 
and  wearied  him,  that  he  retired  into  the  house 
to  rest,  leaving  others  to  trade  and  receive  their 
presents.  Whilst  he  was  asleep,  fifty  of  their 
choice  men,  with  each  an  English  sword  or  club 
in  his  hand,  and  seconded  by  two  or  three  hun- 
dred more,  pressed  into  the  house  to  murder 
him.  But  the  president,  being  waked  from  his 
sleep  by  the  noise  of  the  people  and  shaking  of 
the  house,  betook  himself  to  his  arms,  together 
with  Mr.  Croshaw  and  some  others,  which  soon 
made  them  throng  back  faster  than  they  came. 
But  Opechancanough  and  some  of  his  ancients, 
who  were  kept  prisoners  with  him,  endeavored, 
in  a long  oration,  to  excuse  this  intrusion.  The 


} 152  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

rest  of  the  day  was  spent  with  much  kindness, 
the  Indians  renewing  their  presents,  and  feast- 
ing the  English  with  their  best  provisions. 

“ While  these  things  were  transacting,  there 
happened  an  unlucky  accident  at  the  fort.  Mr. 
Scrivener  had  received  letters  from  England, 

I which  gave  him  towering  thoughts,  and  made 
! him  decline  entirely  in  his  affection  and  friend- 
1 ship  to  Captain  Smith,  who  still  regarded  and 
loved  him  as  his  brother.  This  made  him  more 
headstrong  and  conceited  than  was  naturally 
consistent  with  his  prudence  and  moderation; 
and  having  taken  it  into  his  head  to  visit  Hog- 
Island,  he  could  not  be  turned  from  it  by  the  i 
advice  and  repeated  entreaties  of  Captain  Waldo 
and  several  others.  Therefore,  taking  with  him 
Captain  Waldo,  who  was  not  to  be  absent  from 
the  fort,  but  to  be  ready  to  second  the  president, 
if  called  for,  and  Mr.  Anthony  Gosnold,  a very 
worthy,  honest,  and  industrious  gentleman,  and 
brother  to  Captain  Bartholomew  Gosnold,  with 
eight  others,  he  went  into  the  skiff.  She  was 
so  overloaded  that  she  scarce  could  have  lived 
in  calm  weather;  but,  in  that  cold  and  boisterous 
day,  she  sunk,  none  knowing  how  or  where,  and 
all  aboard  were  drowned.  To  advertise  the 
president  of  this  heavy  news,  none  could  be  got, 
till  Mr.  Richard  Wyffin  undertook  it  alone.  He 
was  encountered  with  many  dangers  and  diffi- 
culties in  all  places  as  he  passed.  And  at  Wero- 
wocomoco,  not  finding  the  president,  and  per- 
ceiving such  preparations  for  war,  he  was  cer- 
tainly assured  that  some  mischief  was  intended. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  153 

But  Pocahontas  hid  him  for  a time,  and  sent 
those  who  pursued  him  quite  the  contrary  way. 
At  length  by  her  means  and  extraordinary  bribes 
and  trouble,  in  three-day’s  travel  he  found  the 
president  at  Pamunkey,  in  the  midst,  of  those 
broils  and  difficulties.  The  president,  having 
sworn  him  to  conceal  this  unhappy  news  from 
the  company,  and  dissembling  his  sorrow  with 
the  best  countenance  he  could,  went  safely 
aboard  at  night,  and  left  Opechancanough  at 
liberty  according  to  his  promise,  and  likewise 
with  a design  the  better  to  entrap  Powhatan  in 
his  return.  Soon  after  he  went  down  the  river, 
having  searched  the  countries  of  Youghtanund 
(now  Pamunkey  River)  and  Mattaponey,  where 
the  poor  creatures  imparted  the  little  corn  they 
had,  with  such  complaints  and  tears  from  the 
eyes  of  women  and  children  as  fully  satisfied  and 
moved  them  with  compassion. 

“ Powhatan  had  threatened  death  to  his  men 
if  they  did  not,  by  some  means  or  other,  kill 
Captain  Smith;  but  they  hated  fighting  with 
him  almost  as  bad  as  hanging;  and  the  presi- 
j dent,  on  his  side,  was  as  eager  to  surprise  and 
take  that  subtle  and  perfidious  barbarian.  . There- 
fore, in  his  way  down  the  river,  there  were  many 
feints  and  stratagems  on  both  parts,  but  without 
any  remarkable  effect:  only  the  president,  with 
Mr.  West,  and  some  others,  would  have  been 
poisoned,  had  their  art  been  equal  to  their  will. 
It  only  made  them  sick,  and  so  worked  itself  off. 
And  thus,  through  many  dangers  and  difficulties, 
they  returned  to  Jamestown,  where  they  deliv- 


154 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


ered  near  200  lbs,  of  deer's  suet,  and  479  bush- 
els of  corn  to  the  cape  merchant. 

“ At  Jamestown  they  found  nothing  done,  but 
their  provisions  spent,  and  a great  part  of  their 
tools  and  arms  conveyed  to  the  Indians.  But 
although  what  was  left  by  the  ship  was  so  rot- 
ten with  the  rain,  and  so  mangled  by  the  rats 
and  worms,  that  the  hogs  would  scarcely  eat  it; 
yet,  upon  casting  up  their  "store,  they  found  a 
sufficient  provision  for  the  year.  Wherefore, 
the  fear  of  starving  being  laid'  aside,  the  com- 
pany was  ranged  into  proper  divisions,  and  six 
hours  each  day  spent  in  work,  the  rest  in  pas- 
time and  merry  exercises.  And  the  president, 
having  called  them  together,  told  them  that  their 
late  experience  and  misery  were  sufficient  to 
persuade  every  one  to  a present  amendment: 
that  they  must  not  think  that  either  his  pains  or 
the  adventurers'  purses  would  for  ever  maintain 
them  in  sloth  and  idleness:  that  he  knew  many 
deserved  more  honor  and  a better  reward  than 
was  j^et  to  be  had;  but  that  far  the  greater  part 
of  them  must  be  more  industrious  or  starve: 
that  it  was  not  reasonable  that  the  labors  of 
thirty  or  forty  honest  and  industrious  men  should 
be  consumed  to  maintain  an  hundred  and  fifty 
loiterers:  and  that  therefore  every  one  that 
would  not  work  should  not  eat;  that  they  had 
often  been  screened  and  protected  in  their  dis- 
obedience to  his  just  and  necessary  commands, 
by  the  authority  of  the  council:  but  that  now, 
all  being  either  dead  or  gone  except  Captain 
Wynne  and  himself,  that  whole  power  rested,  in 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


1 55 


effect,  solely  in  him.  And  therefore  he  advised 
them  not  to  feed  themselves  up  with  the  vain 
presumption  that  his  authority  was  but  a shadow, 
and  that  his  life  must  answer  for  theirs.  For 
the  letters  patent  and  other  powers  would  prove 
the  contrary  ; and  should  every  week  be  read  to 
them,  and  every  one  that  offended  might  as- 
suredly expect  his  due  punishment.  He  also 
made  a table  as  a public  memorial  of  each  man’s 
deserts,  to  encourage  the  good  and  to  spur  on 
the  rest  by  shame.  By  this  many  became  very 
industrious;  but  more  were  driven  to  their  busi- 
ness by  punishment,  and  the  president’s  extra- 
ordinary vigor  and  diligence. 

“As  they  came  down  Pamunkey  (since  called 
York  River)  off  Werowocomoco,  the  president 
had  sent  Mr.  Croshaw  and  Mr.  Ford  to  James- 
town by  land.  In  their  way,  they  met  four  or 
five  of  the  Germans’  confederates  going  to  Pow- 
hatan ; who,  to  clear  themselves  from  those  gen- 
tlemen’s suspicion  that  they  were  running  to  the 
Indians,  returned  with  them  to  the  fort  and  there 
continued.  But  the  Germans,  to  know  the 
reason  of  their  stay,  sent  one  of  their  company, 
a stout  young  fellow,  disguised  like  an  Indian, 
to  the  glass-house.  This  stood  in  the  woods, 
about  a mile  from  Jamestown,  and  was  the 
common  place  of  rendezvous  for  all  their  secret 
villany.  The  president,  hearing  of  this,  imme- 
diately sent  to  apprehend  this  German.  But  he 
being  gone,  he  dispatched  twenty  good  shot 
after,  to  intercept  him  in  his  return  to  Powhatan. 
They  soon  brought  him  back,  and  notwithstand- 


j 

I 


156 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


ing  his  fair  tale  and  plausible  excuses,  he  was 
thrown  into  prison.  However,  the  president 
spared  his  life,  hoping  thereby  to  regain  his 
countrymen. 

“Captain  Smith,  having  sent  all  his  men  after 
the  German,  returned  from  the  glass-house  alone, 
armed  only  with  a faucheon.  In  his  way  he 
met  the  king  of  Paspahey,  a man  of  great 
strength  and  gigantic  stature.  At  first  he  en- 
deavored to  draw  the  president  into  his  ambus- 
cade; but  failing  in  that,  he  attempted  to  shoot 
him;  but  Smith,  to  prevent  it,  closed  in  and 
grappled  with  him;  and  the  Indian,  by  mere 
dint  of  strength,  bore  him  into  the  river,  with 
a design  to  drown  him.  Long  they  struggled 
in  the  water,  till  the  president  got  such  hold  of 
his  throat  that  he  almost  strangled  him.  And 
then,  having  disengaged  himself,  so  as  to  draw 
his  faucheon,  the  poor  savage  begged  his  life  in 
such  a pitiful  manner,  that  he  led  him  to  James- 
town, and  put  him  into  chains,  where  he  con- 
tinued for  some  time,  till  by  the  negligence  of 
his  keepers  he  escaped.  Some  endeavors  were 
used  to  retake  him,  but  without  effect;  only  the 
president  took  two  Indians  prisoners,  Kemps 
and  Tussore,  the  two  most  exquisite  villains  in 
all  the  country.  These  men  would  have  be- 
trayed both  king  and  kindred  for  a piece  of  cop- 
per; and  had  Captain  Wynne  and  Lieutenant 
Percy,  who  w^ere  sent  upon  the  business  with 
fifty  men,  followed  their  directions,  they  would 
certainly  have  regained  the  king,  and  been  fully 
revenged  for  the  injury  and  assault.  However, 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  157 

that  this  might  not  encourage  them  to  farther 
boldness,  they  attacked  and  slew  several  of  the 
nation,  burnt  their  houses,  took  their  canoes 
and  fishing  weirs,  and  planted  some  of  them  at 
Jamestown,  and  were  resolved  to  prosecute 
them  wfth  war  till  they  were  fully  humbled  and 
subdued. 

“ Not  long  after,  the  president  passing  to  Pas- 
pahey,  in  his  way  to  Chickahominy,  was  as- 
saulted by  them.  But  as  soon  as  they  knew 
him,  they  all  threw  down  their  arms  and  sued 
for  peace.  Their  spokesman  was  a lusty  young 
fellow,  named  Okaning,  whose  discourse  well 
deserves  to  be  remembered.  He  told  the  presi- 
dent, that  the  king,  his  master,  was  there  pres- 
ent in  the  company:  that  they  took  him  for 
Captain  Wynne,  who  pursued  them  in  war, 
although  they  had  never  injured  him:  that  if 
the  king  offended  him  in  escaping  from  prison, 
he  ought  to  ponsider,  that  the  fishes  swim,  the 
fowls  fly,  and  the  very  beasts  strive  to  escape 
the  snare  and  live:  that  therefore,  his  master, 
who  was  a man,  ought  not  to  be  blamed  for 
following  this  necessary  instinct  of  nature,  even 
in  brute  animals.  He  reminded  him  of  the 
pains  his  master  took  to  save  his  life  when  a 
prisoner;  and  if  he  had  since  injured  him  he  was 
compelled  to  it,  and  it  had,  however,  been 
already  fully  revenged  to  their  too  great  loss. 
And  he  further  told  him,  if  he  still  persisted  in 
his  resolution  to  destroy  them,  they  must  aban- 
don their  habitations,  and  settle  somewhere  be- 
yond his  reach,  which  would  only  cost  them 
14 


158 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


! more  labor,  but  would  be  of  worse  consequence 
to  the  English,  who  could  not  well  subsist  with- 
| out  their  corn  and  fruits.  And  therefore  he 
earnestly  entreated  him  to  grant  them  his  friend- 
ship, and  to  permit  them  to  enjoy  their  houses,  I 
i and  plant  their  fields  in  peace  and  security. 

; Concluding  that  if  he  would  promise  them  peace, 

! they  would  trust  to  his  word;  but  if  he  pro- 
: ceeded  in  his  revenge,  they  would  quit  the 
country.  Whereupon  the  president  promised 
them  peace,  if  they  would  do  no  further  injury, 
and  would  bring  in  provisions  to  the  fort;  to 
which  they  joyfully  agreed,  and  parted  good 
friends,”*  and  so  continued  till  Smith  left  the 
country. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

! 

Effects  of  Smith’s  Intrepidity — Benefits  of  some  Pretended 
Miracles — Encouraging-  Spirit  of  the  Settlers — Ravages  of 
j the  Rats — New  Quarters  necessary  for  Subsistence — Evils 
j of  Insolence  again  Prevalent — Deserters  returned  by  the 
I Indians — Expedition  to  the  Mangoags  : their  Friendship — 

Villany  of  Volday — Indignation  of  the  People — Course  of  j 
Powhatan — Arrival  of  Argali. 

j 

The  intrepidity  of  Smith  struck  a dread  into 
the  savages,  and  they  began  to  believe  what  he  ; 
had  often  told  them,  that,  “his  God  would  pro-  j 
tect  him  against  all  their  power,  whilst  he  kept  i 
his  promise ; which  was  to  preserve  peace  with 
them  as  long  as  they  should  refrain  from  hostili- 

* Stith’s  History  of  Virginia. 

j 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


] 59 


ties,  and  continue  to  supply  him  with  corn.”— 
An  incident  which  occurred  about  the  same 
time,  confirmed  their  veneration  for  him.  An  In- 
dian having  stolen  a pistol  from  Jamestown,  two 
brothers  who  were  known  to  be  his  companions  j 
were  seized,  and  one  was  held  as  hostage  for  the 
other,  who  was  to  return  in  twelve  hours  with  the  j 
pistol,  or  the  prisoner  w*as  to  be  hanged.  The 
weather  being  cold,  a charcoal  fire  was  kindled  in 
the  dungeon,  which  was  very  close,  and  the  va-  ; 
por  had  so  suffocated  the  prisoner,  that  on  the 
return  of  his  brother  at  the  appointed  time,  with 
the  pistol,  he  was  taken  out  as  dead.  The  faithful 
savage  lamented  his  fate  in  the  most  distressing 
agony.  Smith,  to  console  him,  promised,  if  they 
would  steal  no  more,  that  he  should  be  recovered. 
On  the  application  of  spirits  and  vinegar,  he 
showed  signs  of  life,  but  appeared  delirious; 
this  grieved  the  brother  as  much  as  his  death. 
Smith  undertook  to  cure  him  of  this  also,  on  the 
repetition  of  the  promise  to  steal  no  more.  The 
delirium  being  only  the  effect  of  the  spirits  which 
he  had  swallowed,  wTas  remedied  by  a few  hours’ 
sleep;  and  being  dismissed,  with  a present  of 
copper,  they  went  away,  believing  and  reporting 
that  Smith  was  able  to  bring  the  dead  to  life . 

On  another  occasion,  an  Indian  at  Werowo- 
comoco,  who  had  stolen  a large  bag  of  powder, 
attempted  to  display  his  skill  among  his  compan- 
ions by  drying  it  over  a fire  on  the  back  of  a 
piece  of  armour,  as  he  had  seen  the  soldiers  do 
at  Jamestowm.  Many  stood  peeping  over  his 
shoulder  to  wTatch  his  operations,  when  it  sud- 


160  LIB'S  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

denly  exploded;  killing  him  and  two  more,  and 
badly  scorching  and  mangling  several  others. 
This  Was  a source  of  no  less  dread  than  astonish- 
ment, as  it  was  wholly  attributed  to  the  power 
and  art  of  the  English ; and,  coupled  with  other 
occurrences  equally  beyond  their  comprehension, 
so  frightened  Powrha,tan  and  his  people,  that  they 
flocked  from  all  parts,  returning  many  stolen 
articles  w7hich  had  never  been  demanded,  or 
even  missed,  and  proffering  all  sorts  of  presents 
to  secure  their  peace. 

During  the  remainder  of  Smith's  administra* 
tion  (so  punctilious  was  Powhatan  in  sending 
all  thieves  to  Jamestown  for  punishment,  and  so 
great  was  their  fear  of  detection  by  means  of 
the  English  sorcerers ),  robberies  were  of  rare 
occurrence,  and  the  whole  country  became  as 
free  and  safe  to  the  settlers  as  to  the  Indians. 
In  fact,  the  right  spirit  seemed  to  pervade  all  the 
operations  then  undertaken,  which  were  pursued 
for  a time  with  alacrity  and  success.  ‘‘They 
made  three  or  four  last  of  tar,  pitch,  and  soap* 
ashes;  produced  a trial  of  glass;  sunk  a well  in 
the  fort,  of  excellent  water,  v7hich  till  then  was 
much  wanted;  built  about  twenty  houses;  newly 
covered  the  church;  provided  nets  and  weirs 
for  fishing;  and,  to  stop  the  disorders  of  the 
thieves  and  Indians,  they  built  a block-house  in 
the  neck  of  the  island  to  receive  the  trade  of  the 
Indians;  and  none,  neither  Indian  nor  Christian, 
wras  suffered  to  pass  or  repass  wifhout  the  presi- 
dent’s order.  Thirty  or  forty  acres  of  ground 
were  broke  up  and  planted.  Of  three  sow's,  in 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  161 

| 

eighteen  months,  increased  sixty  odd  pigs;  and  j 
near  five  hundred  chickens  brought  up  them-  j 
selves,  without  having  any  thing  given  them. 
But  the  hogs  were  transported  to  Hog-island;  j 
where  also  was  built  a blockhouse,  with  a gar-  j 
rison,  to  give  notice  of  any  ships;  and  for  their 
exercise  at  leisure  times,  they  made  clapboard 
and  wainscot.  In  this  time  died  Captain  Wynne ; 
so  that  the  government  devolved  wholly  upon 
the  president,  as  it  had  before  in  effect  done  by 
his  having  two  voices  in  the  council. 

“ But  this  flow  of  plenty  and  prosperity  lasted 
not  long;  for,  upon  examination,  they  found  half 
their  corn  rotten,  and  the  rest  consumed  by  rats; 
which,  coming  originally  from  the  ships,  had  in- 
creased to  incredible  multitudes;  so  that  all  i 
works  were  intermitted,  and  the  people  suffi- 
ciently employed  to  get  provisions.  But  at  first 
the  Indians,  to  express  their  love,  brought  in  an 
hundred  a-day  at  least  of  squirrels,  turkies,  deer, 
and  other  wild  beasts ; and  Powhatan  spared 
them  near  half  his  stock  of  corn.  But  the  pres- 
ident was  nevertheless  obliged  to  detach  sixty  or 
eighty  down  the  river,  to  live  upon  oysters. 
Twenty  were  sent  to  the  falls  with  Mr.  West; 
and  as  many  more  with  Lieutenant  Percy  to 
Point  Comfort,  to  try  for  a fishery.  But  he 
being  very  sick,~and  sorely  burnt  with  gunpow- 
der, they  would  not  agree  in  six  weeks  once  to 
cast  their  net.  Many  were  billetted  among  the 
neighbouring  Indians,  who  knewT  that  they  had 
such  a commanding  power  at  Jamestown, 
that  they  durst  not  wrong  them  in  the  least. 

14* 


162  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

And  in  all  this  time  of  distress,  they  caught 
more  sturgeon  than  could  be  devoured  by  man 
and  dog.  This  the  industrious,  drying  and  j 
pounding,  would  mingle  with  cavaire,  sorrel,  and 
wholesome  herbs,  and  make  bread  and  good 
meat.  Others  would  gather  as  much  tuckahoe- 
root  in  a day,  as  would  make  them  bread  for  a 
week,  so  that  upon  these  wild  products,  and 
what  they  caught,  the  diligent  lived  very  well 
and  plentifully. 

“Yet  such  was  the  insufferable  sloth  and  un- 
reasonable perverseness  of  far  the  greater  num- 
ber, that  they  would  sooner  have  perished  than 
have  been  at  the  pains  to  gather  food ; and  they 
were  even  importunate  with  the  president  to  sell 
their  tools  and  iron — nay,  their  swords  and  fire- 
locks, and  their  very  houses  and  ordnance — to 
the  Indians  for  this  trash.  And  they  took  occa- 
i sion  from  hence,  in  a very  turbulent  and  clam- 
| orous  manner,  to  insist  on  the  necessity  of  leaving 
the  country.  But  the  president,  having  punished 
one  of  the  worst  and  most  seditious  among  them, 
called  the  rest  together,  and  represented  to  them 
the  extreme  folly  and  iniquity  of  their  proceed- 
ings ; and  he  told  them  that  if  any  more  were  found 
attempting  to  run  away  to  Newfoundland  with 
the  bark,  they  might  assuredly  expect  the  gal- 
lows as  their  fate:  that  he  never  had  more  from 
the  store  than  the  worst  of  them;  for  they  well 
| knew  and  saw  that  his  extraordinary  allowance 
as  president  was  constantly  distributed  among 
the  sick : and,  since  he  found  necessity  had  not 
power  to  force  them  to  gather  the  fruits  of  the 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  163 

earth,  he  was  resolved  that  they  should  gather, 
not  only  for  themselves,  but  also  for  the  sick ; 
and  that  whosoever  should  not  gather  every  day 
as  much  as  he  himself  did,  should  the  next  day 
be  set  beyond  the  river,  and  banished  from  the 
fort  as  a drone.  This  order  raised  a great 
clamor  and  outcry;  but  it  made  most  of  them 
bestir  themselves  so  well,  that  they  had  plenty 
of  food  to  eat,  and  continued  very  healthy  and 
strong.  Yet  many  of  them,  understanding  how 
well  they  were  used  that  were  billetted  among 
the  Indians,  ran  away  to  Kemps  and  Tussore, 
their  old  prisoners.  But  Kemps  first  made  him- 
self sport  with  them,  showing  his  countrymen 
how  he  was  used  when  a prisoner,  and  feeding 
them  upon  this  condition,  that  they  who  would 
not  work,  should  not  eat;  and  then  he  carried 
them  back  by  force  to  the  president. 

“This  deterred  many  others  who  intended  to 
follow ; and  made  them  content  rather  to  labor 
at  home  than  venture  among  the  Indians.  For 
the  kings  and  better  sort  of  that  people  were  so 
afraid,  or  so  friendly,  that  when  the  English  pun- 
ished some  of  their  baser  sort  with  great  sever- 
ity, they  would  hire  them  not  to  tell  it  to  their 
kings  or  countrymen,  lest  they  should  punish 
them  again,  and  send  them  to  Jamestown,  to 
give  full  satisfaction  to  the  president. 

“About  this  time,  Mr.  Sicklemore  returned 
from  Chawanock;  but  without  any  information 
of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh's  lost  company,  or  satis- 
factory account  of  the  silk-grass;  and  the  pres- 
ident, to  pursue  a point  thought  so  necessary  by 


164 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


the  council  in  England,  sent  off  Mr.  Nathaniel 
Powell  and  Anas  Todkill  to  the  Mangoags,  a 
nation  of  Indians,  not  subject  to  Powhatan, 
dwelling  on  the  upper  branches  of  Nottoway, 
or  some  small  streams  of  Roanoke  river.  He 
obtained  guides  from  the  king  of  the  Quivough- 
quohanocks,  a small  nation  of  Indians,  seated  on 
the  south  side  of  James  river,  about  ten  miles 
above  Jamestown.  This  good  king  did  ever 
affect  the  English  above  all  others;  and  although 
he  was  very  zealous  to  his  false  gods,  yet  he 
confessed  that  the  English  God  as  much  exceeded 
his  as  their  guns  did  his  bow  and  arrows;  and 
in  time  of  drought,  he  would  often  send  presents 
to  Captain  Smith,  to  pray  to  his  god  for  rain. 
His  guides  conducted  Powell  and  Todkill,  three 
days’  journey,  into  a high  country,  towards  the  | 
south-west,  where  they  saw,  here  and  there,  a 
cornfield,  by  some  little  spring  or  small  brook, 
but  no  large  river.  The  people  were,  in  all 
respects,  like  the  rest,  except  their  language. 
They  lived  chiefly  by  hunting,  and  on  fruits  and 
roots;  and  they  trafficked  their  skins  with  those 
towards  the  sea  and  fatter  countries  for  dried 
fish  and  corn.  But  neither  did  they  here,  or 
ever  after,  hear  any  thing  of  this  colony  left  by 
Mr.  White  in  the  year  1587,  on  one  of  the 
islands  of  Hatteras. 

*‘A11  this  while,  they  employed  one  William 
Void  ay,  a Zwitzer,  by  promises  and  pardons  to 
reclaim  his  countrymen,  the  Germans,  and  one 
Bentley,  another  fugitive.  But  this  vile  hypo- 
crite, pretending  highly  to  detest  their  villanv, 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


165 


hereby  got  an  opportunity  to  convey  them  every 
thing  they  wanted  to  effect  their  projects  and 
destroy  their  colony.  With  much  devotion  they 
looked  for  the  Spaniard,  to  whom  they  were 
willing  and  intended  to  do  good  service;  and 
finding  the  English  were  obliged  to  disperse 
themselves  to  gather  food,  they  importuned 
Powhatan  to  lend  them  his  forces;  and  they 
undertook,  not  only  to  destroy  the  hogs,  fire  the 
town,  and  seize  on  the  bark,  but  to  bring  most 
of  the  colony  to  his  service  and  subjection. 
This  scheme  was  communicated  to  many  of 
their  confederates  at  the  fort;  but  two,  whose 
hearts  relented  at  the  horror  of  the  act,  revealed 
it  to  the  president.  He  ordered  them  to  keep  it 
still  a secret,  and  to  draw  them  into  such  am- 
buscades as  he  had  prepared.  But  the  thing 
taking  air,  and  coming  to  the  ears  of  the  impa- 
tient multitude,  they  were  outrageous  to  go  and 
destroy  them  immediately.  Lieutenant  Percy 
and  Mr.  John  Codrington,  two  gentlemen  of 
high  and  resolute  spirits,  offered  their  service  to 
go  to  Werowocomoco,  and  to  cut  their  throats 
before  the  face  of  Powhatan.  But  the  president 
cared  not  to  hazard  such  persons,  for  whom  he 
had  other  employment;  and  gave  way  to  Mr. 
Wyffin  and  Serjeant  Jeffery  Abbot,  to  under- 
take the  matter.  But  the  Germans  so  blinded 
Abbot  with  a fair  tale,  that  he  relented;  and 
Wyffin,  though  willing,  cared  not  to  attempt  it 
alone.  When  Powhatan  understood  their  busi- 
ness, he  sent  immediately  to  the  president,  to 
inform  him  that  he  neither  detained  them  nor 


1G6  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

hindered  his  men  from  executing  his  command ; 
for  he  neither  did  nor  would  maintain  them,  or 
any  other,  to  his  displeasure.  But  although 
these  treacherous  foreigners  did  all  they  could 
to  raise  and  incense  Powhatan  and  the  Indians 
against  the  English,  yet  such  exact  intelligence 
had  Captain  Smith  of  their  plots,  that  their  ma- 
chinations were  his  greatest  advantage  and 
security.  And  if  any  commotion  had  happened, 
he  always  had  it  in  his  power  to  take  revenge; 
for  all  the  country  now  stood  more  in  fear  of 
I him  than  of  Powhatan;  and  he  had  such  parties 
among  the  bordering  nations  that,  out  of  love  or 
fear,  they  would  have  done  any  thing  he  com- 
manded. However,  not  long  after,  one  of  the 
Germans  returned  to  his  duty,  but  the  other 
still  remained  with  Powhatan. 

“Whilst  these  things  were  passing,  Captain 
Samuel  Argali  arrived,  who  was  afterwards  an 
active  person  here,  and  a noted  governor  of  the 
country.  He  came  to  truck  with  the  colony, 
and  to  fish  for  sturgeon,  with  a ship  well  fur- 
nished with  wine  and  other  good  provision. 
This  was,  at  that  time,  a prohibited  trade;  but 
he  being  a kinsman  to  Sir  Thomas  Smith  the 
treasurer,  it  was  connived  at  and  overlooked. 
The  necessities  of  the  colony  obliged  them  to 
take  his  provisions,  by  which  his  voyage  was 
lost;  but  they  revictualled  him,  when  their  next 
supply  arrived,  and  sent  him  to  England  with  a 
full  account  of  the  state  of  their  affairs.  By 
this  ship  they  received  letters,  which  taxed  the 
president  for  his  hard  usage  of  the  natives,  and 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


1G7 


for  not  returning  the  ships  freighted.  And  now 
also  they  first  had  an  account  of  the  alterations 
in  England,  and  of  the  great  preparations  and 
large  supply,  to  be  sent  by  the  Lord  Delaware, 
appointed  captain-general  and  governor-in-chief 
of  Virginia.”* 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  old  Charter  and  Officers  superseded — Extensive  Fleet, 
with  Reinforcements — Shipwreck  of  the  new  Governors — 
Arrival  of  the  Fleet — Surprise  of  Smith — Troublesome  Fac- 
tions— Character  of  the  new  Recruits — Fate  of  the  Germans 
and  Volday — Vigorous  Measures  of  Smith — Imprisonment 
of  the  Factious  Leaders — Attempts  at  New  Settlements — 
More  Difficulties  with  the  Indians — Purchase  of  Powhatan 
— Mutiny  against  Smith  : his  Escape — Complaints  of  the 
Indians  : their  Revenge — Nonsuch  founded  and  abandoned 
— Severe  Accident  to  Smith  : his  Return  to  England  neces- 
sary: Peculiarities  of  his  Situation:  his  Character. 


Tiie  failure  of  the  settlers  to  realize  the  ex- 
pectations of  the  Company  in  England,  led  to 
the  cancelling  of  the  old  charter,  and  the  grant- 
ing of  a new  one,  with  greatly  enlarged  powers, 
and  including  several  men  of  wealth  and"  influ- 
ence, who  had  previously  stood  aloof  from  lack 
of  confidence.  An  expedition,  consisting  of 
nine  ships  and  five  hundred  settlers,  was  dis- 
patched, under  Sir  Thomas  Gates,  Sir  George 
Somers,  and  Captain  Newport,  each  of  whom 
was  furnished  with  a commission  as  governor, 
and  authorized  to  recall  the  commission  formerly 
* Stith’s  History  of  Virginia. 


168  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

' granted — the  first  arriving,  to  assume  the  office 
“But  because  they  could  not  agree  for  place,  it 
was  concluded  that  they  should  all  go  in  one 
ship,  called  the  Sea- Venture.  They  sailed  from 
England  the  latter  end  of  May,  1609;  but  the 
25th  of  July,  the  admiral-ship  was  parted  from 
the  rest  of  the  fleet,  by  the  tail  of  a hurricane, 
having  on  board  the  three  commanders,  an  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men,  their  new  commission,  and 
bills  of  lading,  together  with  all  manner  of  in- 
structions and  directions,  and  the  best  part  of 
their  provisions.  She  arrived  not,  but  was 
foundered  on  Bermudas,  as  shall  be  hereafter 
related.  A small  ketch  likewise  perished  in  the 
hurricane ; but  the  seven  other  ships  came  safe. 
In  them,  as  captains,  came  Ratcliffe,  (whose 
right  name,  as  is  said,  was  Sicklemore)  Martin, 
and  Archer,  with  Captain  Wood,  Captain  Webbe, 
Captain  Moon,  Captain  King,  Captain  Davies, 
Mr.  Ralph  Hamer,  and  divers  other  gentlemen, 

I of  good  fortune  and  eminent  birth.  The  presi- 
dent, being  informed  by  his  scouts  of  the  arrival 
I of  this  fleet,  little  dreamed  of  such  a supply,  but ' 
supposed  them,  at  first,  to  be  Spaniards.  He 
| therefore  put  himself  into  the  best  posture  of 
defence  he  could;  and  being  seconded  by  the 
Indians,  (who,  upon  this  occasion,  showed  their 
I friendship,  and  prepared,  with  great  alacrity,  to 
! assist  the  English  with  their  utmost  power)  they 
thought  themselves  so  well  provided  for  the  re- 
ception of  an  enemy,  that  they  little  feared 
their  coming. 

“ Ratcliffe,  Martin,  and  Archer,  had  bred 


: 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  169 

# 

much  disturbance  at  sea.  and  had  paved  the  way 
for  being  even  more  troublesome  ashore.  For 
they  had  infused  such  jealousies  and  prejudices 
into  the  company  against  Captain  Smith,  that 
they  mortally,  hated  him  before  they  had  ever 
seen  him.  But  several  of  better  sense  and  ex- 
perience among  them,  from  their  first  landing, 
hearing  the  general  good  report  of  his  old  sol- 
diers, and  seeing  the  prudence  and  uprightness 
of  his  actions,  were  soon  undeceived,  and  saw 
into  the  malice  of  Ratcliffe  and  his  faction. 
They  therefore  left  their  society,  and  ever  ad- 
hered to  Captain  Smith  as  his  firm  and  faithful 
friends.  But  a great  part  of  this  new  company 
consisted  of  unruly  sparks  packed  off  by  their 
friends,  to  escape  worse  destinies  at  home.  And 
the  rest  were  chiefly  made  up  of  poor  gentle- 
men, broken  tradesmen,  rakes  and  libertines, 
footmen,  and  such  others  as  were  much  fitter  to 
spoil  or  ruin  a commonwealth,  than  to  help  to 
raise  or  maintain  one.  This  lewd  company 
therefore  were  led  by  their  seditious  captains 
into  many  gross  mischiefs  and  extravagancies. 
They  assumed  to  themselves  the  power  of  dis- 
posing of  the  government;  and  conferred  it 
sometimes  on  one  and  sometimes  on  another. 
To-day,  the  old  commission  must  rule;  to-mor- 
row, the  new;  and  next  day,  neither.  So  that 
all  was  anarchy  and  distraction;  neither  were 
there  any  hopes,  from  the  present  posture  of 
affairs,  but  of  the  utmost  misery  and  confusion. 

“The  German  also  that  had  returned  to  the 
English,  seeing  this  distracted  state  of  things, 
15 


170 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


and  hoping  for  some  advantage  from  it,  tied 
again,  with  one  of  his  consorts,  to  Powhatan, 
to  whom  he  promised  wonders  at  the  arrival  of 
Lord  Delaware.  But  that  sensible  barbarian, 
knowing  the  wickedness  and  perfidy  of  their 
; nature,  replied,  that  they  who  would  have  be- 
trayed Captain  Smith  to  him,  would  certainly 
betray  him  to  this  great  lord,  to  make  their 
I peace;  and  so  he  wisely  ordered  his  men  to  beat 
; out  their  brains.  But  Volday,  the  Zwitzer, 

; made  a shift  to  get  to  England,  where,  persuad- 
ing the  merchants  what  rich  mines  he  had  found, 
and  what  services  he  would  do  them,  he  was 
well  rewarded,  and  sent  back  with  the  Lord 
Delaware.  But  being  found  a mere  impostor, 
he  died  in  a most  contemned  and  miserable 
manner. 

“Captain  Smith,  all  this  time  of  turbulencv  and 
distraction,  was  sadly  troubled  and  perplexed 
how  to  proceed.  At  first,  finding  his  authority 
thus  unexpectedly  cancelled  and  changed,  he 
resolved  to  leave  all,  and  return  for  England. 
But  afterwards,  seeing  there  was  little  hope  of 
the  arrival  of  this  new  commission,  and  that  his 
own  was  not  legally  superseded  but  by  the  actual 
production  of  another,  he  determined  to  bear  up, 
and  to  act  with  vigor  and  resolution.  He  there- 
fore set  himself,  with  great  courage,  and  the  per- 
petual hazard  of  his  life,  to  oppose  this  torrent 
of  faction  and  immorality;  and  at  last  so  far 
mastered  it,  that  he  cast  Ratcliffe,  Archer,  and 
the  other  chiefs,  into  prison,  till  he  had  more 
leisure  to  bring  them  to  a fair  and  legal  trial. 

O o 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  171 

And  the  better  to  dissipate  the  humors,  and  to 
break  the  confederacies,  he  sent  Mr.  West  with 
an  hundred  and  twenty  the  best  he  could  choose 
to  make  a settlement  at  the  falls ; and  Martin, 
with  near  the  same  number,  to  Nansamond; 
allowing  each  their  due  proportion  of  all  the 
provisions,  according  to  their  number.  And 
now  the  year  of  his  presidency  being  near  ex- 
pired, he  made  Captain  Martin,  who  was  become 
more  tractable,  president  in  his  room.  But 
Martin,  knowing  his  own  insufficiency,  and  the 
people’s  unruliness  and  little  regard  for  him, 
within  three  hours  resigned  it  again  to  Captain 
Smith.  For  as  Ratcliffe  had  been  removed  from 
the  council,  and  was  not  again  restored,  Martin 
and  Smith  were  the  only  two  then  in  the  coun- 
try that  could  either  elect  or  be  elected  president . 
and  Martin,  having  thus  wisely  disengaged  him- 
self from  an  office  which  he  was  then  no  ways 
able  to  execute  or  support,  proceeded  to  make 
his  settlement  at  Nansamond.  The  nation, 
having  been  reduced  to  subjection  and  contribu- 
tion, used  him  kindly:  yet  such  were  his  unrea- 
sonable jealousy  and  fear,  that  he  surprised  the 
poor  naked  king,  and  his  monuments  and  houses, 
with  the  island  wherein  lie  lived,  and  there  for- 
tified himself.  But  the  Indians  soon  perceiving 
his  fear  and  distraction,  ventured  to  assault  him  : 
and  they  killed  several  of  his  men,  released  their 
king,  and  gathered  and  carried  off  a thousand 
bushels  of  corn;  whilst  he,  in  the  mean  while, 
never  once  offered  to  intercept  them,  but  sent 
to  the  president,  then  at  the  falls,  for  thirty  sol- 


1 


172  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

diers.  These  were  present!}'  sent  him  from 
Jamestown.  But  he  so  employed  them  that 
they  did  nothing,  and  soon  returned,  complaining 
of  his  tenderness  and  cowardice;  and  he  like- 
wise, leaving  his  company  to  their  fortunes, 
came  away  with  them  to  Jamestown. 

“The  president  followed  the  other  company 
up  to  the  falls  to  see  them  well  seated.  But  he 
was  surprised  in  his  way  to  meet  Captain  West 
so  soon  returning  to  Jamestown;  and  he  found 
the  settlement  very  inconsiderately  made,  in  a 
place  not  only  liable  to  the  river’s  inundation, 
but  also  subject  to  many  other  intolerable  incon- 
veniencies.  To  remedy  which,  he  immediately 
sent  to  Powhatan,  to  purchase  the  place  called 
Powhatan.  The  conditions  of  their  agreement 
were  these:  that  the  English  should  defend  him 
against  the  Manakins;  that  he  should  resign  to 
them  the  fort  and  the  houses,  with  all  that  coun- 
try, for  a proportion  of  copper;  that  all  thieves 
should  be  sent  thither,  to  receive  their  punish- 
ment ; that  every  house,  as  a custom,  should  pay 
the  president  a bushel  of  corn  for  an  inch  square 
of  copper,  and  a certain  quantity  of  pocones  to 
King  James  for  their  protection;  and  that  they 
should  barter  what  else  they  could  spare  at  their 
best  discretion.  But  Captain  West’s  company 
depended  so  much  on  the  lord-general’s  new 
commission,  that  they  regarded  no  person  or 
thing.  And  supposing  the  Manakins’  country 
reached  to  the  South  Sea,  and  was  all  gpld,  they 
pleased  themselves  with  the  vain  conceit  that  it 
was  entirely  under  their  power  and  command, 


CArTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  173 

and  that  none  should  go  thither  but  whom  they 
pleased.  They  therefore  rejected  the  president 
with  insolence  and  contempt.  However,  he 
ventured,  with  five  men,  to  land  among  them; 
and  committed  the  heads  of  the  mutiny  to  prison, 
till,  by  their  numbers,  they  obliged  him  to  retire. 
In  making  off,  he  happily  surprised  one  of  their 
boats,  with  which  he  returned  to  the  ship;  and 
had  not  the  mariners  proved  very  tractable  and 
faithful  to  him,  he  had  small  means  and  little 
probability  of  escaping  their  fury. 

“The  Indians  also  came  to  him,  complaining, 
that  he  had  brought  them,  for  protectors,  worse 
enemies  than  the  Manakins  themselves;  that 
they  stole  their  corn,  robbed  their  gardens,  broke 
open  their  houses,  beat  them,  and  kept  several 
in  prison ; and  that,  till  then,  they  had  borne  all 
this  out  of  love  to  him,  but  desired  pardon  if 
hereafter  they  defended  themselves.  They  like- 
wise offered  him  their  assistance,  and  to  fight 
for  him  against  them,  if  he  would  lead  them  on. 
But  having  spent  nine  days,  to  no  purpose,  in 
endeavoring  to  reclaim  them,  he  departed  for 
Jamestown.  The  ship  was  no  sooner  under  sail, 
but  twelve  Indians  assaulted  those  hundred  and 
twenty  in  their  fort.  And  finding  many  strag- 
gling abroad  in  the  woods,  they  killed  some,  and 
so  frightened  the  rest  that  their  countrymen  in 
prison  escaped,  and  they  went  safely  oft'  with 
the  swords  and  cloaks  of  those  they  had  slain. 
But  before  the  ship  had  sailed  half  a league  she 
grounded,  which  gave  the  president  an  oppor- 
tunity of  summoning  them  once  more  to  a par- 
15* 


I 


174  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

ley.  And  now  he  found  them  so  amazed  with 
that  silly  assault  of  the  Indians,  that  they  sur- 
rendered themselves,  upon  any  terms,  to  his 
mercy.  He  therefore  laid  six  or  seven  of  the 
chief  offenders  by  the  heels,  and  seated  the  rest 
at  Powhatan,  the  strongest  and  best  place  he 
had  seen  in  the  country,  and  for  that  reason  they 
called  it  Nonsuch.  Here  they  had  dry  houses 
for  lodgings,  near  two  hundred  acres  of  land, 
cleared  and  ready  for  planting,  with  a savage 
fort  ready  built,  and  prettily  fortified  with  poles 
and  barks  of  trees,  and  sufficient  to  have  de- 
fended them  against  all  the  Indians  in  the  coun- 
try. He  likewise  appeased  the  Indians,  making 
restitution  and  satisfaction  to  each  party  for 
their  former  losses  and  damages. 

“And  now,  new  officers  being  appointed,  and 
the  president  ready  to  depart,  just  at  thai  instant 
arrived  Captain  West,  whose  gentle  nature  was 
so  wrought  on  and  abused  by  compassion  for 
the  prisoners  and  the  persuasions  of  the  mutin- 
eers, who  alleged  they  had  only  done  this  for  his 
honor,  that  all  things  were  again  thrown  into 
confusion  and  mutiny.  But  the  president,  hav- 
ing no  inclination  to  contend  with  Mr.  West, 
and  little  power  to  curb  their  insolence,  left  them 
to  their  fortunes  and  returned  to  Jamestown; 
and  soon  after  they  abandoned  Nonsuch,  and 
went  back  to  their  first  settlement  at  West’s-Fort. 

“ But  passing  down  the  river,  as  Captain  Smith 
was  asleep  in  the  boat,  his  powder-bag,  by  some  j 
accident,  was  fired,  which  tore  the  flesh  from  his 
body  and  thighs,  nine  or  ten  inches  square,  in  a i 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  175 

most  dreadful  manner.  To  quench  the  fire, 
which  fried  and  tormented  him  in  his  clothes, 
he  leaped  overboard,  and  was  almost  drowned 
before  they  could  recover  him.  In  this  piteous 
state  he  arrived  at  Jamestown,  where  Ratcliffe, 
Archer,  and  the  rest  of  their  confederates  were 
soon  to  come  to  their  trials.  But  their  guilty 
consciences  misgiving  them,  and  seeing  the  pres- 
ident unable  to  stand,  and  almost  bereft  of  his 
senses  by  reason  of  his  torment,  they  entered 
into  a conspiracy  to  murder  him  in  his  bed.  But 
his  heart  failed  him  who  was  to  have  given  fire 
to  the  pistol;  and  so,  being  disappointed  in  this 
purpose,  they  joined  together  to  usurp  the  gov- 
ernment and  thereby  escape  their  punishment. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  president’s  old  soldiers 
being  provoked  beyond  all  patience  at  their 
malice  and  sedition,  flocked  to  him,  and  impor- 
tuned him  to  give  them  but  the  word,  and  they 
would  fetch  the  heads  of  the  boldest  among  them 
that  durst  resist  his  commands.  Yet  he  would 
not  suffer  them  to  bring  the  matter  to  a civil  broil, 
but  sent  immediately  for  the  masters  of  the  ships, 
and  took  order  with  them  for  his  return  to  Eng- 
land ; for  there  was  neither  chirurgeon  nor  chir- 
urgery  at  the  fort;  and  his  wounds  were  so 
grievous,  and  torments  so  cruel,  that  few  ex- 
pected he  could  live.  And  he  likewise  highly 
resented,  and  was  much  chagrined  to  see  his  : 
authority  suppressed,  he  knew  not  why  ; himself 
and  his  soldiers  to  be  rewarded  for  their  past  la- 
bors and  dangers,  he  knew  not  how;  and  a new 
commission  granted,  to  they  knew  not  whom. 


176  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

And  besides,  he  found  himself  unable  to  follow 
his  business,  suppress  those  factions,  and  range 
the  country  for  provisions  as  he  before  intended. 
And  he  well  knew  that  his  own  presence  and 
activity  were  as  requisite  in  those  affairs  as  his 
advice  and  directions.  For  all  which  reasons 
he  resolved  upon  leaving  the  country,  and  went 
presently  on  board  one  of  the  ships. 

“Captain  Percy  had  been  for  some  time  in  a 
very  bad  state  of  health,  and  had  taken  his  pas- 
sage in  one  of  the  ships  to  go  to  England:  but 
now,  upon  Smith’s  departure,  many  came  about 
him,  and  by  entreaties  and  persuasions  prevailed 
with  him  to  stay,  and  take  upon  him  the  govern- 
ment. But  there  were  many  others  up  in  arms, 
calling  themselves  presidents  and  counsellors, 
several  of  which  began  now  to  fawn  upon  and 
solicit  Smith  to  give  up  his  commission  to  them ; 
and  after  much  ado,  and  many  bitter  repulses, 
that  their  ruin  and  confusion  might  not  be  at- 
tributed to  him  for  leaving  the  country  without 
a commission,  he  permitted  it  to  be  stolen , but 
never  could  be  induced  to  resign  it  into  such 
vile  hands.” — Stith. 

About  the  latter  part  of  September,  1609, 
Captain  Smith  left  the  country,  never  again  to 
see  it.  “He  left  behind  him  three  ships  and 
seven  boats;  commodities  ready  for  trade;  the 
corn  newly  gathered;  ten- weeks’  provision  in 
the  store;  four  hundred  and  ninety  odd  persons  ; 
twenty-four  pieces  of  ordnance;  three  hundred 
; muskets,  with  other  arms  and  ammunition,  more 
] than  sufficient  for  the  men;  the  language  and 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  177 

habitations  of  the  Indians  well  known  to  an 
hundred  trained  and  expert  soldiers;  nets  for 
fishing;  tools  of  all  sorts  to  work;  apparel  to 
supply  their  wants;  six  mares  and  a horse;  five 
or  six  hundred  hogs;  as  many  hens  and  chickens, 
with  some  goats  and  some  sheep;  for  whatever 
had  been  brought  or  bred  here,  still  remained. 
But  this  seditious  and  distracted  rabble,  regard- 
ing not  any  thing,  but  from  hand  to  mouth, 
riotously  consumed  what  there  was,  and  took 
care  for  nothing  but  to  color  and  make  out  some 
complaints  against  Captain  Smith.  For  this  end 
the  ships  were  detained  three  weeks,  at  a great 
charge,  till  they  could  produce  and  bring  them 
to  bear.”* 

As  a soldier  of  fortune,  we  have  seen  that, 
previous  to  his  connexion  with  Virginia,  Smith 
had  “run  through  a great  variety  of  life  and 
adventure.”  So  notorious  were  many  of  his 
heroic  exploits,  that  “he  lived  to  see  himself 
brought  upon  the  stage,  and  the  chief  dangers 
and  most  interesting  passages  of  his  life  racked, 
as  he  complains,  and  misrepresented  in  low  tra- 
I gedies.”  One  of  his  friends,  whom  he  left  behind 
in  Virginia,  has  given  this  character  of  him  : “ In 
all  his  proceedings  he  made  justice  his  first  guide, 
and  experience  his  second;  hating  baseness, 
sloth,  pride  and  indignity,  more  than  any  dan- 
gers. He  never  would  allow  more  for  himself 
than  for  his  soldiers  ; and  upon  no  danger  would 
send  them  where  he  would  not  lead  them  him- 
self. He  would  never  see  us  want  what  he  had, 
* Stith’s  History  of  Virginia. 


178 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


or  could  by  any  means  get  for  us.  He  would 
rather  want  than  borrow ; or  starve  than  not  pay. . 
He  loved  action  more  than  words;  and  hated 
covetousness  and  falsehood  worse  than  death. 
His  adventures  were  our  lives;  and  his  loss 
our  deaths.” 

Few  men,  in  any  age  or  country,  were  ever 
more  universally  esteemed,  among  the  honorable 
and  independent  portion  of  their  contemporaries, 
than  Smith;  and  this  high  estimation  of  his 
moral  worth  seems  to  have  been  transmitted 
from  generation  to  generation,  undiminished  by 
the  lapse  of  time,  and  equally  as  prevalent  at 
the  present  day  as  it  was  two  centuries  and  a 
half  ago.  The  following  just  remarks  upon  his 
administration  of  affairs  in  Virginia,  are  taken 
from  Mr.  Hillard's  popular  work: 

“It  is  hardly  possible  for  Captain  Smith’s  services 
to  the  colony  to  be  exaggerated.  Nothing  but  the 
force  of  his  character  could  have  conducted  it  through 
so  many  difficulties  and  dangers.  Upon  his  single 
life  its  existence  hung,  and  without  him  the  enterprise 
would  have  been  relinquished  again  and  again*  as  in 
the  case  of  the  settlements  on  the  coast  of  North 
Carolina,  and  the  establishment  of  a permanent  co- 
lony in  America  would  have  been  delayed  to  an  in- 
definite period,  since  every  unsuccessful  attempt 
would  have  been  a fresh  discouragement  to  such  an 
undertaking.  It  is  easy  to  be  seen  that  he  embraced 
the  interests  of  the  colony  with  the  whole  force  of 
his  fervid  and  enthusiastic  character.  He  was  its 
right  eye  and  its  right  arm*.  In  its  service  he  dis- 
played a perseverance  which  no  obstacles  could  dis-  i 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  181 

p d short  of  idolatry.  His  great  qualities  were 
evident  to  these  untutored  children  of  Nature,  and 
their  reverence  was  the  instinctive  homage  which  is 
paid  to  innate  superiority.  This  is  alone  sufficient 
to  prove  that  he  never  treated  the  Indians,  even  as 
they  thought  with  injustice,  cruelty,  or  caprice ; had 
it  been  so,  he  never  would  have  been  so  admired  and 
honored  by  a race  of  men  who  are  proverbial  for 
riever  forgetting  an  injury. 

“The  genuine  merits  of  Captain  Smith,  as  a pre- 
siding officer,  can  only  be  fairly  estimated  by  com- 
paring him  with  others.  We  have  seen  that  whenever 
he  departs  from  Jamestown,  every  tiling  is  thrown 
into  confusion,  and  that,  as  soon  as  he  returns,  order 
is  restored  and  the  jarring  notes  of  discord  cease  to 
be  heard  As  none  but  himself  could  bend  the  bow 
of  Ulysses,  so  no  one  was  capable  of  sustaining  the 
office  of  President,  for  a single  day,  but  Captain 
Smith.”  * * * “Compare  also  the  results  of  his 

brilliant  expedition  to  explore  the  Chesapeake,  with 
Newport’s  pompous  march  into  the  country  of  the 
Monacans,  in  which  his  failure  was  as  wretched  as 
his  means  of  success  were  ample.  The  miserable 
adventures  of  the  colony,  too,  after  he,  its  ruling  and 
moving  spirit,  had  departed,  are  in  themselves  a 
splendid  encomium  upon  his  energetic  and  successful 
administration.” 

16 


182 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


CHAPTER  XI V 

II 

The  Sea-Venture  and  the  Governors — Isle  of  Devils : its  Ani- 
mal and  Vegetable  Productions — The  Shipwrecked  Party 
leave  for  Virginia  : Desperate  Condition  of  Affairs  in  that 
Region  : “ The  Starving  Time  ” — Resolution  to  abandon  the 
Settlement : Happily  Frustrated  by  the  arrival  of  Lord  Del- 
j aware — Important  Assistance  from  England — Projected  New 

! Settlements — Pocahontas  made  a Prisoner — Powhatan  ap- 

prised of  her  Situation:  His  Answer — Skirmishes  with  the 
I Indians — Two  Brothers  of  Pocahontas — Partial  Arrange- 

ment of  Difficulties — Marriage  of  Pocahontas  and  Rolt'e  : 
Embarkation  for  England  : Arrival. 

Many  interesting  events  in  the  life  of  Poca- 
hontas are  so  intimately  blended  with  the  history 
of  Captain  Smith,  that  we  shall  incorporate  them 
j as  coming  legitimately  within  the  sphere  of  our 
design.  For  the  same  reason,  we  shall  also  in-  i 
elude  the  most  important  matters  connected  with 
|;  the  settlement  after  the  captain’s  departure  for 
| England.  As  a necessary  link  in  the  chain  of 
connection,  the  fate  of  the  three  governors  who 
{ embarked  in  the  Sea- Venture  may  be  considered 
as  first  in  order.  After  this  vessel  was  separated 
from  the  rest  of  the  fleet,  she  became  so  shatter- 
| ed  and  leaky  by  the  violence  of  the  sea,  that  the 
| “water  in  the  hold  rose  above  two  tiers  of  hogs- 
heads;” and  thore  on  board  were  obliged  to  stand 
up  to  their  waists,  bailing  with  buckets,  kettles, 
j or  similar  implements,  for  three  days  and  nights 
I without  intermission.  Finding  that,  despite  their 
utmost  efforts,  the  water  was  rather  gaining  upon 
j them,  they  resolved  to  close  the  hatches,  and 
“commit  themselves  to  the  mercy  of  the  sea 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


170 


hearten,  a courage  which  bordered  upon  rashness, 
and  a fertility  of  resources  which  never  left  him  at 
a loss  for  remedies  against  every  disaster,  and  for  the 
means  of  extricating  himself  from  every  difficulty 
and  embarrassment. 

“It  is  curious  to  observe,  that  he  seemed  not  only 
to  superintend,  but  to  do  every  thing.  His  official 
dignity  never  encumbered  him  when  any  thing  was 
to  be  done.  We  find  him,  at  one  time,  cutting  down 
trees  with  his  own  hands;  at  another,  heading  an 
exploring  expedition,  venturing*  with  a few  timid 
followers,  in  an  open  bark,  into  unknown  regions 
densely  peopled  with  savage  tribes;  and  at  another, 
marching  with  a few  soldiers  to  procure  provisions, 
and  sleeping  on  the  bare  ground  in  the  depth  of  win- 
ter. He  had  the  advantage  of  possessing  an  iron 
frame  and  a constitution  which  was  proof  against 
sickness  and  exposure ; so  that,  while  others  were 
faint,  drooping,  and  weary,  he  was  vigorous,  unex- 
i hausted,  ready  to  grapple  with  danger,  and  contem- 
plating every  enterprise  with  cheerful  confidence  in 
the  result. 

“In  the  government  of  his  colony  he  was  rigidly 
impartial,  just,  and,  as  might  be  expected  from  one 
who  had  so  long  been  a qoldier,  strict,  even  to  sever- 
ity. This  was  indeed  one  of  the  objections  made 
to  his  administration  by  the  council  in  England,  and 
it  without  doubt  created  him  many  enemies  in  James- 
town. But  the  intelligent  reader  will  find  for  him  a 
sufficient  apology  in  the  desperate  character  of  many 
of  the  settlers,  and  in  the  absolute  necessity  of  im- 
plicit subordination,  which  their  situation  required. 

“ The  whole  power  was  centred  in  his  own  person, 
and  a refusal  to  obey  him  was  a refusal  to  obey  the 
laws,  upon  which  their  safety  and  even  existence 


i 


i 


it 

I 

j 


180  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

depended.  His  severity  arose  from  a sense  of  duty, 
and  no  one  ever  accused  him  of  being  wantonly 
cruel  or  revengeful.  No  man  was  more  ready  to 
forgive  offences,  aimed  at  himself  personally ; a 
striking  proof  of  which  is,  that  we  hear  of  no  punish- 
ments being  inflicted  on  the  dastardly  wretches  who 
attempted  to  assassinate  him,  as  he  was  lying  help- 
less from  his  wounds,  during  the  last  days  of  his 
administration. 

“His  conduct  to  the  Indians,  though  not  always 
dictated  by  a spijjt  of  Christian  justice  or  brotherhood, 
will  be  found  very  honorable  to  him,  if  tried  by  the 
standard  of  the  opinions  of  his  day.  Here,  too,  his 
apology  must  be  found  in  the  peculiar  circumstances 
in  which  he  was  placed.  He  was  not  the  head  of 
a powerful  body,  meeting  and  trading  with  the  Indians 
on  terms  of  equality,  but  of  a feeble  band,  whom 
they,  if  they  had  known  their  own  strength,  might 
have  crushed  in  a moment.  The  passion  of  fear  is 
the  parent  of  cruelty  and  of  treachery.  It  was  ne- 
cessary (or  at  least  it  was  deemed  so)  to  overawe 
the  Indians,  to  strike  terror  into  them  ; and,  if  the 
means  resorted  to  for  accomplishing  these  ends  were 
not  strictly  justifiable,  there  was  at  least  an  excuse 
for  them. 

“The  English  were  also  more  than  once  threaten- 
ed with  famine,  while  their  Indian  neighbors  were 
generally  well  supplied  with  provisions;  and  reason 
and  experience  tell  us  that  starving  men  will  not  be 
very  nice  in  their  expedients  to  obtain  food,  or  coolly 
examine  into  the  right  and  wrong  of  measures,  when 
a fierce  animal  instinct  is  goading  them  on.  Captain 
Smith,  by  prudence  and  firmness,  established  a most 
harmonious  feeling  between  the  two  races. 

“The  respect  of  the  Indians  for  him  hardly  stop- 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  183 

and  God’s  good  providence.  In  this  dangerous 
and  desperate  state,  some  who  had  good  and 
comfortable  waters  fetched  them,  and  drank  to 
one  another,  as  taking  their  last  leaves  till  a 
more  happy  and  joyful  meeting  in  the  other 
world.”  Sir  George  Somers  had  sat  all  this  time 
upon  the  poop,  managing  to  keep  the  ship  upright, 
or  she  must  long  before  have  foundered.  At 
last  he  had  the  good  fortune  unexpectedly  to 
descry  land ; and  “ this  welcome  news,  as  if  it 
had  been  a voice  from  heaven,  hurried  them  all 
above  hatches,  to  see  what  they  could  scarce 
believe.”  Although  it  was  known  to  be  Ber- 
muda, “a  place  then  dreaded  and  shunned  by 
all  men,”  yet  they  crowded  sail,  and  did  every 
thing  else  in  their  power  to  reach  the  land.  “It  ( 
was  not  long  before  the  ship  struck  upon  a rock; 
but  a surge  of  the  sea  cast  her  from  thence,  and 
so  from  one  to  another,  till  she  wTas  most  luckily 
thrown  up  between  two  as  upright  as  if  she  had 
been  on  the  stocks.”  Suddenly  the  wind  abated 
to  a calm,  and  the  sea  became  so  still  that,  with 
the  greatest  ease,  all  the  passengers,  provisions, 
and  goods  were  got  safely  on  shore — a distance 
of  more  than  a league  from  the  wreck.  So  ter- 
rible had  this  place  previously  become  in  the 
eyes  of  mariners,  on  account  of  the  wreck  of 
numerous  Spanish,  French  and  Dutch  vessels, 
that,  with  the  usual  elegance  of  marine  classics, 
it  had  been  pretty  generally  christened  the  Isle 
of  Devils . All  concerned  were  agreeably  disap- 
pointed in  not  realizing  their  dismal  expectations : 
they  found  it  the  most  healthful,  pleasant,  and 


184 


LIFE  AND  AD  VENTURES  OF 


productive  place  they  had  ever  seen.  They  met 
with  excellent  fish,  so  large  and  plentiful,  that  in 
half  an  hour  enough  could  be  caught  by  one 
individual  to  supply  the  whole  company.  On  one 
occasion,  “Sir  George  Somers  caught  one  that 
had  before  carried  oft'  two  of  his  hooks,  so  large 
that  it  would  have  pulled  him  into  the  sea,  had 
not  his  men  got  hold  of  him.”  Hogs  also  were 
found  so  abundant,  that  at  their  first  hunting 
they  killed  thirty-two;  and  game,  fruits,  vegeta- 
bles, and  other  acceptable  means  of  subsistence 
enabled  them  to  live  in  such  plenty,  ease,  and 
comfort,  that  “many  forgot  all  other  places,  and 
never  desired  to  return  from  thence.” 

At  last,  however,  it  was  resolved  to  deck  the 
long-boat  with  the  ship’s  hatches,  and  to  send 
Mr.  Raven  and  eight  others  to  Virginia,  for  the 
purpose  of  making  arrangements  for  their  trans-  j 
portation  thither;  but  this  frail  vessel  must  have 
perished  at  sea,  as  none  of  the  party  were  ever 
heard  of  afterwards.  Even  in  the  small  group 
of  humanity  left  upon  the  island,  “such  was  the 
malice,  envy,  and  ambition  of  some,  that,  not- 
withstanding Sir  George  Somers’s  eminent  ser- 
vices, there  arose  great  differences  between  the 
commanders,”  which  seemed  to  verify  the  ob- 
servations of  a Spanish  author,  that  the  air  of 
America  was  infectious,  and  inclined  men’s  minds 
to  wrangling  and  contention.  Each  party  deter- 
mined on  building  a vessel,  and  two  cedar  ships 
were  at  length  finished.  Instead  of  pitch  and 
tar,  their  seams  were  caulked  and  payed  with 
lime  and  turtle’s  oil,  which  quickly  became  dry, 


CAPTATN  JOHN  SMITH. 


185 


arid  as  hard  as  stone;  they  were  rigged  with 
what  was  saved  from  the  Se a- Venture,  and 
amply  provisioned  with  acceptable  fare.  On 
the  10th  of  May,  1010,  all  but  two*  were  em- 
barked, and  somewhat  regretfully  left  the  island, 
having  sojourned  there  for  about  nine  months. 
After  a prosperous  voyage  of  fourteen  days, 
they  reached  their  destination,  where  every  thing 
was  found  in  such  a desperate  condition,  that 
they  at  once  abandoned  all  hope  of  maintaining 
the  settlement,  and  made  immediate  preparations 
for  returning  to  England. 

It  appears  that  no  sooner  had  the  Indians 
learned  that  Smith  was  gone,  than  they  set  at 
defiance  the  remaining  power  of  the  whites — 
murdering  and  pillaging  indiscriminately  every 
party  they  could  overpower.  The  stores  left  by 
Smith  were  becoming  rapidly  exhausted,  when 
Captain  West  and  Captain  Ratcliffe,  each  with 
some  thirty  or  forty  men  in  a “small  ship,” 
were  dispatched  in  quest  of  materials  for  replen- 
ishing their  stock.  With  a foolhardiness  charac- 
teristic of  the  man,  Ratcliffe  put  himself  entirely 
within  the  power  of  Powhatan,  and  dearly  did 
he  pay  for  his  temerity — being  slaughtered  with 
the  whole  of  his  party,  except  two.  Captain 
West  was  more  fortunate,  although  he  failed  in 

* Christopher  Carter  and  Edward  Waters,  who  had  ren- 
dered themselves  amenable  to  punishment  for  certain  of- 
fences, fled  into  the  woods  to  avoid  the  demands  of  justice. 
Waters  had  been  actually  tied  to  a tree  to  be  executed,  but 
he  cut  the  rope  with  a knife  he  had  secreted,  and  made  his 
escape. 


16* 


186 


LIFE  AND  ADVENT UR E3  OF 


obtaining  the  necessary  supplies;  and  shortly 
after  sailed  for  England.  In  the  words  of  Dr.  j 
Simons,  they  now  began  fearfully  to  realize  “the 
loss  of  Captain  Smith — yea,  his  greatest  malign- 
ers could  now  curse  his  loss.”  “As  for  corn, 
provisions,  and  contributions  from  the  savages,” 
he  continues,  “we  had  nothing  but  mortal 
wounds  with  clubs  and  arrows;  as  for  our  hogs,  ' 
hens,  goats,  sheep,  horse,  or  what  lived,  our 
| commanders,  officers,  and  savages  daily  consurn- 
! ed  them;  some  small  proportions  sometimes  we 
| tasted,  till  all  was  devoured  ; then  swords,  arms, 

! pieces,  or  any  thing,  we  traded  with  the  savages, 

I whose  cruel  fingers  were  so  oft  imbrued  in  our 
; blood,  that  what  by  their  cruelty,  the  governor’s 
indiscretion,  and  the  loss  of  our  ships,  of  five 
I hundred  within  six  months  after  Captain  Smith's 
! departure,  there  remained  not  past  sixty  men, 
i women,  and  children,  most  miserable  and  poor 
| creatures ; and  these  were  preserved  for  the  most 
part  by  roots,  herbs,  acorns,  walnuts,  berries,  and 
now  and  then  a little  fish : they  that  had  starch  in 
these  extremities,  made  no  small  use  of  it;  yea, 

! even  the  very  skins  of  our  horses.  Nay,  so 
; great  was  our  famine,  that  a savage  we  slew 
| and  buried,  the  poorer  sort  took  him  up  again, 
and  ate  him,  and  so  did  divers  one  another,  boil-  , 
ed  and  stewed  with  roots  and  herbs.  And  one 
amongst  the  rest  did  kill  his  wife,  powdered  her, 
and  had  eaten  part  of  her  before  it  was  known, 
for  which  he  was  executed,  as  he  well  deserved. 
Now,  whether  she  was  better  roasted,  boiled  1 
or  carbonadoed,  I know  not;  but  of  such  a dish  j 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH, 


187 


as  powdered  wife,  I never  heard  of.  This  was 
that  time  which  still  to  this  day  we  called  the 
Starving  Time!  It  were  too  vile  to  say,  and 
scarce  to  be  believed,  what  we  endured;  but  the 
occasion  was  our  own,  for  want  of  providence, 
industry  and  government.” 

It  is  no  wonder  that  the  newly-arrived  govern- 
ors, who  had  so  narrowly  escaped  death  in  two 
other  forms,  and  who  knew  nothing  of  the 
causes  wThich  had  produced  such  deplorable  re- 
sults, should  be  in  favor  of  leaving  a prospect 
so  desolate.  They  at  once  embarked  the  remnant 
of  the  colony  with  themselves,  making  such 
provision  as  their  means  afforded,  and  turned 
their  prows  towards  England.  Before  they  got 
to  sea,  however,  they  were  met  by  Lord  Del  a-  j 
ware,  who  had  been  sent  out  as  governor,  bring-  ! 
ing  three  ships  exceedingly  well  furnished  with 
all  necessaries;  and  after  a brief  consultation 
among  the  leaders  of  the  newly-departed  and 
the  newly-arrived,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to 
return  to  Jamestown. 

On  the  10th  of  June,  1610,  Lord  Delaware 
attended  divine  service  at  the  church  with  his 
officers;  and  after  seeking  counsel  of  God,  he 
“ delivered  some  few  words  to  the  company, 
laying  just  blame  upon  them  for  their  haughty 
vanities  and  sluggish  idleness,  and  earnestly  en- 
treating them  to  amend  those  desperate  follies, 
lest  he  should  be  compelled  to  draw  the  sword 
of  justice,  and  to  cut  off  such  delinquents. ’* — 
His  address  had  the  desired  effect  for  a time. 
New  buildings  and  fortifications  were  erected, 


188 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


and  ample  means  provided  for  the  comfortable 
subsistence  of  all.  He  remained  with  the  col- 
ony nearly  a year,  during  which  time  his  health 
materially  suffered  from  various  diseases,  in- 
cluding ague,  dysentery,  gout,  and  scurvy;  he 
therefore  proposed  returning  to  England,  and 
accordingly  embarked  for  that  country,  March 
28,  1611,  leaving  the  government  again  in  the 
hands  of  Captain  George  Percy,  by  whom  it 
was  administered  until  May  10th,  when  Gov- 
ernor Sir  Thomas  Dale  arrived  with  another 
supply  of  men,  cattle,  and  provisions.  From 
the  representations  made  by  Lord  Delaware  on 
his  return,  the  Virginia  Company  were  induced 
immediately  to  fit  out,  for  Sir  Thomas  Gates, 
“six  tall  ships,  with  three  hundred  men,  one 
hundred  kine  and  cattle,  and  all  other  manner 
of  provision  that  could  be  thought  needful  ;v 
which  arrived  at  Jamestown  on  the  2d  of  August, 
when  Gates  superseded  Dale  as  governor. 

The  build'ng  of  new  towns  now  began  to 
engross  a large  share  of  attention;  but  owing  to 
the  continued  hostility  of  Powhatan  and  the 
surrounding  chiefs,  whom  none  of  the  numerous 
governors  had  been  able  to  subdue  or  conciliate, 
such  undertakings  were  attended  with  great 
danger  and  little  benefit. 

About  this  time  Captain  Argali  was  sent  to 
the  Potomac  to  trade  for  corn,  the  Indians  in 
the  vicinity  of  Jamestown  having  then  none  to 
spare,  and  no  disposition  to  spare  it  when  they 
had.  He  contrived  to  ingratiate  himself  into 
the  good  graces  of  Japazaws,  the  king  of  that 


1 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  189 

country,  and  an  old  friend  of  Captain  Smith, 
with  whom  he  made  an  arrangement  for  the 
betrayal  of  Pocahontas  into  his  power.  For 
I some  reason,  never  satisfactorily  ascertained, 
this  “numparell  of  Virginia,”  as  she  was  styled 
by  Smith,  had  placed  herself  under  the  protec- 
tion of  this  Indian,  relying  upon  him  to  keep  her 
retreat  unknown  to  all  but  trusty  friends;  and 
Captain  Argali  engaged  to  give  him  a copper 
kettle  to  bring  her  on  board  his  ship ; promising 
not  to  hurt  her,  but  to  keep  her  safe  until  a 
treaty  of  peace  could  be  concluded  with  her 
father.  ‘‘This  savage,”  it  is  affirmed  “would 
have  done  any  thing  for  the  copper  kettle;  and 
therefore,  having  no  pretence  on  account  of  her 
own  curiosity,  because  she  had  seen  and  been 
in  many  ships,  he  made  his  wife  pretend  that 
she  was  very  desirous  to  see  one.”  They  each 
played  their  parts  so  well — she  feigning  inces- 
sant importunity,  and  he  threatening  to  beat  her 
if  she  did  not  forbear  to  annoy  him — that  at  last 
Pocahontas,  thinking  herself  unknown,  and  as 
a means  of  restoring  harmony  between  her  art- 
ful friends,  consented  to  accompany  them  on 
board,  where  they  were  all  liberally  feasted  in 
the  cabin.  Here"  Japazaws  frequently  trod  on 
the  captain’s  foot  to  remind  him  that  he  had 
done  his  part  in  securing  the  prize;  and  the 
captain,  when  he  thought  the  proper  time  arrived, 
persuaded  Pocahontas  into  the  gun-room,  under 
pretence  of  having  some  conference  with  Jap- 
azaws, “which  was  only  that  she  should  not  per- 
ceive he  was  any  way  guilty  of  her  captivity.” 


190  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

After  settling  thb  agreement  with  her  betrayers, 
he  sent  for  her  again,  and  told  her,  in  their  pres- 
ence, that  she  must  go  with  him,  and  compound 
peace  with  her  country  and  the  English  before 
ever  she  should  see  Powhatan.  At  this  intima- 
tion, (some  more  acting  being  considered  advisa- 
ble) her  quondam  protector  and  his  wife  began 
to  “howl  and  cry  as  fast  as  Pocahontas;”  but 
the  captain’s  fair  explanations  and  promises  by 
degrees  had  the  effect  of  pacifying  all  parties; 
and  “ Japazaws  and  his  wife,  with  the  kettle  and 
other  toys,  went  merrily  on  shore,  and  she  to 
Jamestown,”  where  she  had  not  been  before 
since  the  departure  of  Captain  Smith. 

A messenger  was  forthwith  dispatched  to  Pow- 
hatan, apprising  him  of  the  situation  of  his 
daughter,  and  intimating  that  she  could  only  be 
ransomed  by  the  restoration  of  the  men,  swords, 
pieces,  tools,  &c.,  which  he  had  treacherously 
stolen.  This  unwelcome  news  troubled  him 
much;  because,  says  the  chronicler,  “he  loved 
both  his  daughter  and  our  commodities  well;” 
yet  an  interval  of  three  months  elasped  ere  he 
deigned  an  answer.  Then,  by  the  persuasion 
of  the  council,  he  returned  seven  men,  with 
each  of  them  a useless  musket;  and  sent  word 
that  when  his  daughter  was  restored  to  freedom, 
he  would  make  satisfaction  for  all  former  injuries, 
and  give  five  hundred  bushels  of  corn,  with  an 
assurance  that  he  would  ever  remain  on  friendly 
terms.  The  men  and  articles  were  received  as 
part  payment;  but  word  was  sent  him  that  it 
was  not  believed  that  the  rest  of  the  arms  were 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  191 

either  lost  or  stolen  from  him,  and  therefore  his 
daughter  would  be  detained  until  they  were 
forthcoming.  He  was  so  much  displeased  with 
this  answer,  that  no  more  was  heard  from  him 
for  a long  time  after;  and  it  is  quite  uncertain 
whether  he  would  have  paid  any  further  atten- 
tion to  the  matter,  had  not  some  determined 
measures  been  taken  to  secure  the  promised 
ransom.  Argali’s  ship  and  several  vessels  be- 
longing to  the  colony,  with  one  hundred  and  fifty 
well-appointed  men,  went  up  the  river  to  his 
principal  residence,  in  the  hope  of  accomplish- 
ing their  object  by  this  show  of  force;  but  they 
were  received  by  his  chiefs  in  a spirit  of  bra- 
vado, and  told  that  they  were  most  “welcome 
if  they  came  to  fight,”  as  preparations  had 
been  made  for  their  reception,  and  they  would 
fare  as  Ratcliffe  and  his  men  had  done.  Not 
content  with  these  bullying  expressions,  they 
finally  “let  flv  their  arrows”  among  the  vessels, 
but  without  doing  any  serious  harm.  Being  thus 
tauntingly  defied,  however,  Argali  manned  his 
boats,  went  on  shore,  and  burned  their  houses; 
after  which,  he  proceeded  further  up  the  river. 
On  the  next  day  they  had  another  meeting  with 
the  Indians,  who  insolently  inquired  why  they 
burned  their  houses?  which  inquiry  was  an- 
swered by  another,  why  they  had  fired  upon  the 
vessels?  “ They  replied  that  it  was  some  strag- 
gling savage,  with  many  other  excuses;  they  in- 
tended no  hurt,  but  were  friends.”  Being  assured 
that  the  object  of  the  English  was  also  friend- 
ly, they  expressed  their  readiness  to  conclude 


LIFE  A ND  ADVENTURES  OF 


192 


1 a peace,  and  forthwith  dispatched  messengers  to 
| Powhatan,  whose  answer,  it  was  alleged,  could 
I not  be  received  in  less  than  twenty-four  hours. 

I They  then  stated  that  the  men  which  had  been 
j demanded  had  ran  away,  for  fear  of  being  hanged 
if  they  were  surrendered ; as  for  the  swords  and 
muskets,  they  should  be  brought  the  next  day ; 
but  it  was  afterwards  quite  apparent,  that  this 
was  only  an  expedient  to  gain  time,  for  the  next 
day  brought  no  fulfilment  of  their  promises.  It 
was  then  determined  that  the  expedition  should 
proceed  higher  still,  to  a house  of  Powhatan’s, 
called  Matchot;  and  here  were  found  about  four 
hundred  men,  completely  armed  with  every  im- 
plement for  Indian  warfare,  who  dared  the  Eng- 
lish to  come  ashore,  which  they  did.  No  show 
of  fear  was  made  by  the  savages,  nor  did  they 
oiler  any  resistance  to  the  landing  of  Argali's 
party;  but,  walking  boldly  up  and  down  among 
them,  demanded  a conference  with  the  captain. 
A truce  was  arranged  until  the  next  day,  that 
they  might  send  once  more  to  their  king  to  know 
his  pleasure : “ If  it  were  not  agreeable  to  their  ex- 
pectation,” says  one  who  was  present,  “ then  they 
would  fight  with  us,  and  defend  their  own  as  best 
j they  could;  # * * and  they  should  know  when 
we  would  begin  by  our  drums  and  trumpets,” — 
a very  accommodating  arrangement  truly ! Two 
of  Powhatan’s  sons  took  advantage  of  this  inter- 
val to  visit  their  sister,  and  were  much  rejoiced 
to  find  her  well,  promising  that  they  would  per- 
suade her  father  to  redeem  her,  and  conclude 
satisfactory  terms  of  peace.  The  two  brothers 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  193 

then  remained  on  board  as  hostages,  and  Rolfe  j 
and  Sparks  were  sent  to  apprise  Powhatan  that 
all  things  were  in  readiness  for  a “ pacific  solu- 
tion of  existing  difficulties.  Thje  embassy 
were  kindly  entertained,  but  not  admitted  into 
the  royal  presence:  Opechancanough,  the  king’s 
brother  and  successor,  acting  as  secretary  of 
state,  promised  his  best  efforts  to  prevail  upon 
his  “august  sovereign”  to  accede  to  all  reason- 
able requirements,  and  establish  lasting  amity. — 

It  being  now  (April)  the  season  for  planting 
corn,  it  was  deemed  advisable  to  be  content 
with  this  understanding;  and  Argali  and  his 
party  returned  to  Jamestown,  stipulating,  in  any 
event,  not  to  exact  the  payment  of  certain  pen- 
alties until  after  the  next  harvest. 

Long  before  this,  Mr.  John  Rolfe,  a worthy 
young  gentleman,  conceived  a sincere  affection 
for  Pocahontas,  which  she  as  sincerely  recipro-  1 
cated.  While  engaged  in  this  expedition,  he 
wrote  a letter  on  the  subject  to  Sir  Thomas  Dale, 
entreating  his  advice,  and  Pocahontas  likewise 
took  occasion  to  hold  a consultation  with  her 
brothers.  The  friends  of  both  parties  highly  ap- 
proving of  their  union,  it  was  soon  settled  upon; 
and  the  report  of  this  determination  coming  to 
the  knowledge  of  Powhatan,  he  not  only  gave 
his  consent  at  once,  but  within  ten  days  sent 
Opachisco,  an  old  uncle  of  her’s,  and  two  of  his 
sons,  to  see  the  manner  of  the  marriage,  and  to 

* This  is  a modern  phrase.  We  hope  that  none  of  our 
readers  will  suspect  any  of  the  diplomats  engaged  in  this 
affair  of  having  invented  it ! 

17 


194 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


do  in  that  behalf  what  they  were  required,  for 
the  confirmation  of  it,  as  his  deputies.  It  was 
therefore  solemnized  in  the  beginning  of  April, 
1013,  and  “ever  after  they  had  friendly  trade 
and  commerce,  as  vv7ell  with  Powhatan  himself 
as  with  all  his  subjects.” 

After  her  marriage,  Rolfe  and  his  friends  were 
very  careful  and  assiduous  in  instructing  Poca- 
hontas in  the  Christian  religion  ; and  she,  on  her 
part,  expressed  an  eager  desire  and  evinced  great 
capacity  in  learning.  Her  advancement  was 
so  rapid  and  satisfactory,  that  she  soon  openly 
renounced  the  idolatry  of  her  country,  confessed 
the  faith  of  Christ,  and  was  baptized  by  the  name 
of  Rebecca.^  But  her  real  name,  it  seems,  was 
Mato  ax,  which  the  Indians  carefully  concealed 
j from  the  English,  and  changed  it  to  Pocahontas, 
out  of  a superstitious  fear,  lest  they,  by  the 
knowledge  of  her  true  name,  should  be  enabled 
to  do  her  some  hurt.  She  was  the  first  Chris- 
tian Indian  in  this  reign,  and  perhaps  the  sincerest 
and  most  worthy  that  has  ever  been  since.  Al- 
though she  was  alwavs  the  favorite  child  of  her 
father,  she  never  expressed  the  least  desire  to 
return  to  him,  nor  could  she  endure  the  brutish 
manners  or  society  of  her  own  nation.  Her 
affection  to  her  husband  was  extremely  constant 
and  true;  and  he,  on  the  other  hand,  always 
displayed  a tender  solicitude  for  her  happiness, 
which  evinced  a just  appreciation  of  her  many 
noble  qualities.  When  Powhatan  afterwards 
heard  of  the  great  change  which  had  been 
wrought  in  his  daughter,  and  was  told  that  she 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


195 

would  not  on  any  account  return  and  live  with 
him,  he  laughed  heartily,  and  seemed  very  much 
pleased  to  hear  it. 

Sir  Thomas  Dale  soon  after  relinquished  the 
government  of  Virginia,  and  returned  to  England, 
being  accompanied  by  Pocahontas  and  her  hus- 
band, who  also  carried  with  them  several  young 
natives  of  both  sexes — all  of  whom  arrived  safe 
at  Plymouth,  June,  12,  1616. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Smith  engages  in  New  Explorations  on  the  Northern  American 
Coasts  : Success  and  Return — His  Agreement  with  Prince 
Charles  in  regard  to  the  Names  of  several  Important  Places  : 
Villany  of  his  Associate,  Captain  Hunt — High  Anticipations 
of  Smith — Promise  of  the  Plymouth  Company:  Engage- 
ment with  them — Better  Offers  declined — Expedition  under 
Cooper  sails  from  London— Sir  Ferdinand  Gorges— Cunning 
Device  of  a Kidnapped  Indian  to  get  Home — Abortive  at- 
tempts to  unite  the  London  and  Plymouth  Companies — 
Failure  of  the  latter  to  redeem  their  promises — Two  Vessels 
at  last  provided,  in  which  Smith  sails  : his  Return,  disabled 
by  a Storm : Sails  again  in  another  Craft — Encounter  with 
Pirates — Captured  by  a French  Cruiser:  His  Sailors  escape 
with  the  English  Vessel : Smith  detained  a Prisoner  : Occa- 
sional Employment  in  Fighting  and  Writing — Captain  Bar- 
ra, “an  English  Pirat” — A Rich  Prize — Liberal  Promises 
to  Smith,  who  is  taken  to  France — False  Accusations — 
Fortunate  Escape — New  Trials  and  Difficulties — Return  to 
England. 

While  the  interesting  events  recorded  in  the 
last  chapter  were  transpiring  in  Virginia,  Cap- 
tain Smith  was  engaged  in  enterprises  in  other 
regions  which  afforded  an  ample  field  for  the 
exercise  of  his  active  temperament.  The  injuries 


198  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

he  had  sustained  from  the  accidental  explosion 
of  powder,  as  previously  recorded,  appear  to  have 
yielded  to  medical  treatment,  and  he  was  soon  in 
a condition  to  encounter  new  perils.  He  did 
not,  however,  at  once  engage  in  his  favorite 
business  of ‘'seeing  the  world,”  through  the  in- 
strumentality of  new  exploring  expeditions,  but 
seems  to  have  lived  in  comparative  privacy  for 
a few  years,  probably  busied  on  his  reminiscences 
of  former  times,  and  storing  his  mind  with  use- 
ful knowledge  for  the  future.  After  a while, 
being  well  known  in  England,  “the  report  of  his 
valour,  and  his  spirit  of  adventure,  pointed  him  out 
to  a number  of  merchants,  who  were  engaged  in 
the  American  fishery,  as  a proper  person  to  make 
discoveries  on  the  coast  of  North  Virginia,  as  it 
was  called  at  that  time,  but  which  name  was 
afterwards  changed  for  that  of  New  England. 
In  March,  1614,  he  sailed  from  London  with  two 
ships,  and  arrived  at  the  island  of  Monahigon 
in  latitude  43^°,  as  it  was  then  computed,  where 
he  built  seven  boats.  The  design  of  the  voyage 
was  to  take  whales,  to  examine  a mine  of  gold 
and  another  of  copper,  which  were  said  to  be 
there;  and  if  either  or  both  of  these  should  fail, 
to  make  up  the  cargo  with  fish  and  furs.  The 
mines  proved  a fiction,  and  by  long  chasing  the 
whales  to  no  purpose,  they  lost  the  best  season 
for  fishing;  but  while  the  seamen  were  engaged 
in  these  services,  Smith,  in  one  of  his  boats, 
with  eight  men,  ranged  the  coast,  east  and  west, 
from  Penobscot  to  Cape  Cod;  bartering  with 
the  natives  for  beaver  and  other  furs,  and  mak- 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


107 


ing  observations  on  the  shores,  islands,  harbours, 
and  head-lands  ; which,  at  his  return  to  England, 
he  wrought  into  a map,  and,  presenting  it  to 
Prince  Charles,  (afterwards  the  royal  martyr ) 
with  a request  that  he  would  give  the  country 
a name,  it  was  for  the  first  time  called  New- 
England.  The  prince  also  made  several  alter- 
ations in  the  names  which  Smith  had  given  to 
particular  places.  For  instance,  he  had  called 
the  name  of  that  promontory  which  forms  the 
eastern  entrance  of  Massachusetts  bay,  Trag- 
abigzanda;  after* the  name  of  the  Turkish  lady 
to  whom  he  had  been  formerly  a slave  at  Con- 
stantinople; and  the  three  islands  which  lie  off 
the  Cape,  the  Turks’  Heads,  in  memory  of  his 
victory  over  the  three  Turkish  champions,  in  his 
Transylvanian  adventures.  In  filial  respect  to  j 
his  mother,  Charles  called  the  former  ‘Cape 
Anne,’  which  name  it  has  ever  since  retained; 
the  name  of  the  islands  has  long  since  been  lost; 
and  another  cluster,  to  which  he  gave  his  own 
name,  Smith’s  Isles,  and  which  name  the  prince 
did  not  alter,  are  now,  and  have  for  more  than 
a century,  been  called  the  Isles  of  Shoals;  so 
that  the  most  pointed  marks  of  his  discoveries 
on  the  coast  of  New  England  have,  either  by 
his  own  complaisance  to  the  son  of  his  sovereign, 
or  by  force  of  time  and  accidents,  become  ob- 
solete. When  he  sailed  for  England  in  one  of 
the  ships,  he  left  the  other  behind  to  complete 
her  lading,  with  orders  to  sell  the  fish  in  Spain. 
The  master,  Thomas  Hunt,  decoyed  twenty-four 
of  the  natives  on  board,  and  sold  them  in  Spain 
17* 


198 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


for  slaves.  The  memory  of  this  base  transac- 
tion was  long  preserved,  and  succeeding  adven- 
; turers  suffered  on  account  of  it.”# 

Smith  gave  so  favorable  a report  of  the  coun- 
tries he  had  visited,  that  a momentary  furor 
sprung  up  for  immediately  forming  settlements 
under  his  supervision.  Facilities  and  advan- 
tages were  promised  without  stint  in  aid  of  this 
project,  and  he  was  induced  to  calculate  largely 
upon  accomplishing  something  which  should  be 
beneficial  to  his  countrymen  and  honorable  to 
himself;  but  he  was  again  sadly  disappointed, 
and  reaped  nothing  but  a harvest  of  chagrin  for 
his  arduous  services. 

On  his  return  to  Plymouth,  it  was  his  “ill 
chance,”  he  says,  to  impart  several  important 
facts  connected  with  his  voyage  to  persons  whom 
he  considered  as  friends,  and  who  “were  inter- 
ested in  the  dead  patent  of  this  unregarded 
country.”  Many  of  the  old  North  Virginia 
Company  were  so  favorably  impressed  with  his 
projects,  that  they  at  once  engaged  his  services, 
with  the  assurance  that  he  should  have  the 
“managing  their  authority  in  those  parts  during 

* Many  jump  at  the  conclusion  that  Hunt  was  actuated  j 
in  this  disgraceful  business  merely  by  the  motive  of  put- 
ting money  in  his  purse;  but  this  is  the  least  important  i 
object  assigned  by  Smith  for  the  act.  He  regarded  it  as  a 
stroke  of  policy,  intended  to  perpetuate  the  hostility  of  the 
natives — 44 thereby  to  keep  this  abounding  country  still  in 
obscurity,  that  onely  he  and  some  few  merchants  more 
might  enjoy  wholly  the  benefit  of  the  trade.”  It  is  grati-  i 
fying  to  know  that,  whatever  the  motive,  he  was  indig-  ' 
nantly  dismissed  from  employment  on  returning  to  England. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


199 


his  life.”  Relying  upon  the  sincerity  of  these  i 
promises,  he  set  off  for  London,  to  attend  to 
matters  connected  with  his  former  and  future 
expeditions.  Here  he  found  the  tongue  of  envy 
had  preceded  him,  and  was  busy  in  charging  him 
with  misrepresentations  respecting  the  resources 
of  New  England — suggesting  that  if  such  ad- 
vantages as  he  claimed  existed  there,  others 
would  have  found  them  out  as  well  as  he;  and 
further  intimating  thatjhe  had  probably  robbed 
; the  French  settlers  in  New  France  or  Canada 
of  the  valuable  commodities  which  he  brought 
home.  However,  the  scandals  circulated  seemed 
to  have  but  little  effect  upon  those  wTho  fitted 
out  the  last  expedition;  on  the  contrary,  they 
tried  again  to  induce  Smith  to  enter  their  em- 
ployment, wrhich  he  w^ould  gladly  have  done, 
had  he  not  engaged  with  the  Plymouth  Com- 
pany, as  above  stated.  With  a frankness  which 
distinguished  all  his  actions,  he  gave  publicity  to 
his  schemes,  setting  forth  the  great  gain  which 
would  probably  be  realized  from  the  fisheries, 
the  fur-trade,  and  colonization.  His  “projects 
for  fishing  only  wras  so  well  liked/5  that  the  South 
Virginia  Company  hastened  to  fit  out  four  good 
ships,  which  w^ere  ready  for  sea  before  they  at 
Plymouth  had  made  any  provision  at  all;  and 
although  Smith  had  made  an  arrangement  with 
i Michael  Cooper,  master  of  the  bark  engaged  in  j 
his  previous  explorations,  to  accompany  him  in 
his  new  expedition,  yet  Cooper  disregarded  his 
engagement,  and  went  out  with  the  four  vessels 
as  soon  as  they  wrere  ready.  In  relation  to  this 


200  lifj:  and  a d ventures  of 

transaction,  Smith  says,  “How  he  dealt  with 
others,  or  others  with  him,  I know  not;”  # * 

“ I must  confesse  I was  beholden  to  the  setters 
forth  of  the  foure  ships  that  went  with  Couper, 
in  that  they  offered  me  that  employment  if  I 
would  accept  it:  and  I find  still  my  refusal  in- 
curred some  of  their  displeasures,  whose  love 
and  favor  I exceedingly  desired;  and  though 
they  do  censure  me  opposite  [instead  of]  their 
proceedings,  they  shall  yet  still,  in  all  my  words 
and  deeds,  find  it  is  their  error,  not  my  fault, 
that  occasions  their  dislike  ; for  having  engaged 
myselfe  in  this  business  to  the  West  Countrey, 
I had  been  very  dishonest  to  have  broke  my 
promise;  nor  will  I spend  more  time  in  discov- 
ery or  fishing  till  I may  go  with  a company,  for 
a plantation ; for  I know  my  grounds,  yet  every 
one  to  whom  I tell  them,  or  that  reads  this  booke, 
cannot  put  it  in  practice,  though  it  may  helpe 
any  that  hath  seene  or  not  seene  to  know 
much  of  those  parts.  And  though  they  en- 
deavor to  worke  me  out  of  my  own  designes,  I 
will  not  much  envy  their  fortunes;  but  I would 
be  sorry  their  intruding  ignorance  should  by 
their  defailments  bring  those  certainties  to  doubt- 
fulnesse.  So  that  the  business  prosper,  I have 
my  desire,  be  it  by  whomsoever  that  are  true 
subjects  to  our  king  and  country : the  good  of 
my  country  is  what  I seek,  and  there  is  more 
than  enough  for  all,  if  they  could  be  contented/' 
About  this  time  Sir  Ferdinand  Gorges  was 
zealously  engaged  in  fitting  out  expeditions  to 
the  portions  of  New  England  now  constituting 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  201 

the  states  of  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  and  Mas* 
sachusetts.  His  principal  object  was  to  colonize 
a large  grant  of  land  which  he  had  received, 
and  from  which  he  expected  to  realize  fame  and 
wealth.  In  conjunction  with  others,  he  expended 
large  sums  upon  the  undertaking;  and  although 
the  returns  disheartened  his  coadjutors,  he  was 
not  so  easily  discouraged.  When  his  associates 
declined  any  further  connection  with  the  busi- 
ness, he  determined  to  carry  it  on  by  himself; 
and  for  this  purpose  he  purchased  a ship,  and 
obtained  a master  (Captain  Richard  Vines)  and 
company  in  whom  he  had  the  fullest  confidence, 
arranging  with  them  ‘‘to  stay  in  the  country 
over  the  winter,  and  pursue  the  discovery  of  it.” 
The  information  gained  by  Vines,  merely  em- 
bracing some  further  knowledge  of  the  country 
and  natives,  was  the  only  remuneration  for  the  i 
heavy  expenses  attendant  on  the  voyage.  Yet  ; 
Sir  Ferdinand  was  soon  induced  to  embark  in 
another  scheme,  calculated  to  facilitate  his  plans, 
and  which  promised  to  make  better  returns. 
There  was  at  that  time  in  London  an  artful 
Indian,  named  Epenow,  a native  of  the  island 
of  Capawock,  (now  Martha’s  Vineyard,)  “who 
had  been  treacherously  brought  to  England  by 
one  of  the  fishing  ships,”  for  the  purpose  of  being 
exhibited.  This  savage  came  to  Gorges  with 
Captain  Henry  Harley,  an  unfortunate  adven- 
turer in  the  first  expedition,  who  anticipated 
great  results  from  what  he  had  been  told  by 
him  respecting  his  native  country.  The  fellow, 
it  seems,  had  invented  a plausible  story  relative 


202  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

to  a mine  of  gold  in  his  native  island,  in  the  hope 
that  some  adventurer  would  be  induced  to  con- 
vey him  home,  to  point  out  the  treasure;  nor 
was  he  disappointed.  Funds  were  soon  raised, 
and  Harley  sailed  in  June,  1614,  taking  with 
him  Epenow  and  two  other  Indians,  named  As- 
sacumet  and  WanapA  On  the  arrival  of  the 
ship  at  the  harbor  where  Epenow  was  to  fulfil 
his  promise,  many  of  his  kinsmen  and  other 
natives  came  on  board,  with  whom  he  held  a 
conference,  and  contrived  his  escape.  When 
leaving,  they  promised  to  return  the  next  day 
with  furs  for  traffic.  “Epenow  had  pretended 
that  if  it  were  known  that  he  had  betrayed  the 
secrets  of  his  country,  his  life  would  be  in  dan- 
ger, but  the  company  were  careful  to  watch 
him;  and,  to  prevent  his  escape,  had  dressed  him 
in  long  clothes,  which  could  easily  be  laid  hold 
of,  if  there  should  be  occasion.  His  friends 
appeared  the  next  morning  in  twenty  canoes; 
and,  lying  at  a distance,  the  captain  called  on 
them  to  come  on  board,  which  they  declining, 
Epenow  was  ordered  to  renew  the  invitation. 
He>  mounting  the  forecastle,  hailed  them  as  he 
was  directed,  and  at  the  same  instant,  though 
one  held  him  by  the  coat,  yet  being  strong  and 
heavy,  he  jumped  into  the  water.  His  country- 
men then  advanced  to  receive  him,  and  sent  a 
shower  of  arrows  into  the  ship,  which  so  dis- 
concerted the  crew,  that  the  prisoner  completely 
effected  his  escape.”*  Thus  the  golden  dream 
vanished,  and  the  ship  returned  without  having 
* Belknap. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


203 


performed  any  services  adequate  to  the  expense 
of  her  equipment. 

The  Plymouth  Company,  although  not  directly 
interested  in  this  adventure,  were  so  discouraged 
by  its  ill  success,  that  (says  Smith)  “ thev  neither 
regarded  much  their  promises,  and  as  little  either 
me  or  the  country,  till  they  saw  the  London 
ships  gone,  and  me  in  Plymouth  according  to 
my  promise.”  “Now  you  are  to  remember,”  he 
continues,  “I  was  promised  foure  good  ships, 
ready  prepared  to  my  hand  the  next  Christmas, 
and  what  conditions  and  content  I would  desire 
to  put  this  businesse  in  practise,  and  arriving  at 
London,  foure  more  were  offered  me  with  the  si 
like  courtesie.”*  “In  January,  with  two  hun-  j| 
dred  pound  in  cash  for  adventure,  and  six  gen-  ! 
tlemen  well  furnished,  I went  from  London  to 
the  foure.ships  were  promised  me  at  Plymouth, 
but  I found  no  such  matter:  and  the  most  of 
those  that  had  made  such  great  promises,  by  the 
bad  returne  of  the  ship  [which]  went  for  gold, 
and  their  private  emulations,  were  extinct  and 
qualified.  Notwithstanding,  at  last,  with  a lab- 
yrinth of  trouble,  though  the  greatest  of  the 
burden  lay  on  me,  and  a few  of  my  particular  j 

* On  this  occasion,  Smith  had  taken  great  pains  to  in- 
duce the  London  and  Plymouth  speculators  to  unite  their 
interests  in  the  contemplated  adventure ; “because  the  Lon- 
doners have  most  money,  and  the  Western e men  are  most 
proper  for  fishing;  and  it  is  neere  as  much  trouble,  but 
much  more  danger,  to  sail  from  London  to  Plymouth,  than  ; 
from  Plymouth  to  New  England;  so  that  half  the  voyage 
would  thus  be  saved:  yet  by  no  meanes  I could  prevaile,  i 
so  desirous  they  were  both  to  be  lords  of  this  fishing.” 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


204 


friends,*  I was  furnished  with  a ship  of  two 
hundred  tunnes  and  another  of  fiftie.”  It  was 
I part  of  Smith’s  plan,  in  addition  to  other  objects, 
to  found  a colony  upon  some  suitable  spot  in 
New  England,  and  for  this  purpose  he  had  en- 
gaged sixteen  individuals  to  remain  with  him 
wherever  he  might  settle.  These  were,  of 
course,  over  and  above  the  necessary  comple- 
ment of  sailors  for  the  two  vessels;  and  all 
things  being  arranged,  the  adventurers  set  sail 
from  Plymouth  in  March,  1615.  When  they 
had  proceeded  about  one  hundred  and  twenty 
leagues,  the  large  ship  was  dismasted,  and  sprung 
a-leak,  which  obliged  her  to  put  back  under 
jury-masts  to  Plymouth,  while  the  smaller  craft 
kept  on  her  way,  and  returned  with  a profitable 
cargo  the  ensuing  August.  This  accident  ma- 
terially crippled  the  undertaking;  for,  instead 
of  refitting  the  disabled  ship,  (probably  unsea- 
worthy before  being  taken  up  for  this  business,) 
the  remainder  of  the  provisions  and  a portion 
of  the  crew,  with  the  sixteen  intended  for  the 
nucleus  of  the  colony,  were  transferred  to  a 
small  bark  of  sixty  tons.  With  this  very  indif- 
ferent equipment,  Smith  sailed  again  on  the  24th 
of  June;  but  scarcely  had  he  got  well  on  his 
way,  before  he  encountered  a series  of  disasters, 
which  effectually  debarred  him  from  the  further 
prosecution  of  his  designs.  First,  he  was  chased  j 
by  an  English  pirate  of  one  hundred  and  forty  j 
tons  and  thirty-six  guns,  to  which  the  master,  1 

* Sir  Ferdinand  Gorges  and  Dr.  Sutliffe,  Dean  of  Exeter, 
were  among  the  number. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  205 

mate,  pilot,  and  others  importuned  him  to  yield, 
but  “he  vowed  to  sinke  rather  than  be  abused/' 
These  thought  it  very  strange  that  a little  vessel 
of  only  sixty  tons  and  four  cannon  should  stand 
so  stoutly  to  her  defence,  until  they  recognized 
the  valiant  Smith,  under  whom  several  of  them 
had  served  long  before — probably  in  the  Turkish 
wars.  They  had  “but  lately  run  from  Tunis, 
where  they  had  stolen  this  ship;”  and  being 
then  in  a state  of  mutiny,  and  short  of  provi- 
sions, they  entreated  Smith  to  become  their 
commander,  which  he  declined,  and  “which  j 
afterwards  we  all  repented,”  adds  the  deposition 
of  several  who  were  with  him.  Having  thus  : 
easily  got  rid  of  this  ugly  “free-trader,”  they 
went  on  their  way  rejoicing,  until  near  Fayal, 
when  they  met  with  two  French  pirates — the 
one  of  two  hundred  tons,  the  other  thirty.  At  | 
first,  nothing  could  induce  the  crew  to  offer  re-  | 
sistance  to  this  great  disparity  of  force;  and  it 
was  not  until  Smith  threatened  to  blow  up  the 
ship  rather  than  yield  while  there  was  a shot  in 
the  locker,  that  his  men  consented  to  do  their 
duty:  “so  together  by  the  ears  we  went,”  says 
the  aforesaid  deposition,  “and  at  last  got  cleere 
of  them  for  all  their  shot.”  At  Flores  they  were 
again  chased  by  four  French  men-of-war,  well 
armed  and  provided,  with  whom,  when  over- 
hauled, they  “had  much  parley;”  and  on  being 
assured  that  they  “had  a commission  from  the 
king  onely  to  secure  true  men,  and  take  Portu- 
gal, Spaniards,  and  pirats,  and  as  they  requested, 
our  captaine  went  to  show  his  commission,  which 
18 


=“■11 


206  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


! 


i 

i 


was  under  the  broad  seale;  but  neither  it  nor 
their  vows  they  so  much  respected,  but  they 
kept  him”  on  board,  rifled  the  vessel,  manned 
her  with  Frenchmen,  and  dispersed  the  crew 
among  their  fleet.  Within  five  or  six  days  after 
this,  they  were  joined  by  several  additional  sail ; 
when  they  concluded  to  relinquish  their  ill-got- 
ten prize,  with  most  of  the  provisions  and  hands. 
On  being  again  at  liberty,  many  of  the  men  in- 
sisted on  returning  at  once  to  England,  although 
they  were  then  as  near  to  their  point  of  destina- 
tion; but  the  majority  were  in  favor  of  continu- 
ing the  voyage,  which  was  accordingly  resolved 
upon.  Under  some  specious  pretext,  the  French 
admiral  unaccountably  sent  a boat  for  Smith  to 
come  on  board  his  vessel  again ; and  hardly  had 
he  reached  the  deck,  when  a strange  sail  was 
descried,  to  which  immediate  chase  was  given. 
Night  coming  on,  the  disaffected  on  board  the 
English  ship  took  the  opportunity  to  get  away 
with  her;  thus  leaving  their  captain  with  nothing 
but  “his  cap,  bretches,  and  waist-coat,  alone 
among  the  Frenchmen.”  His  clothes,  arms, 
and  what  he  had,  were  shared  among  them;  and, 
pretending  to  be  fearful  that  it  was  his  intention 
to  turn  pirate,  they  made  that  an  excuse  for  re- 
turning to  Plymouth,  where  the  leaders  were 
afterwards  tried  for  their  misconduct,  but  man- 
aged to  escape  the  punishment  they  deserved.* 


ii 
: ! 
■ 


I 


* This  is  the  inference  from  all  the  statements  to  be  met 
with.  “The  greatest  losse  being  mine,”  says  Smith,  “the 
sailers  did  easily  excuse  themselves  to  the  merchants  in 
England,”  whose  faith  in  the  enterprise  was  still  strong 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  207 

j 

Smith  seems  to  have  been  convinced  that  his 
detention  was  premeditated,  and  was  occasioned 
by  the  treachery  and  misrepresentations  of  the 
master  and  mate  of  his  own  vessel,  who  had 
manifested  a mutinous  disposition  from  the  time 
of  leaving  England.  They  made  their  captors 
believe  that  he  “ would  revenge  himself  up6n  the 
banke,  or  in  New  found  land,  upon  all  the  French 
he  could  there  encounter ;"  and  further  repre- 
sented— -what  was  no  doubt  true — that  if  he  had 
not  been  over-persuaded,  he  would  have  fired 
the  ship;  that  if  he  “had  but  againe  his  arrnes, 
he  would  rather  sinke  by  them,  than  they  should 
have  from  him  but  the  value  of  abisket;  and 
many  other  such-like  tales/'  circulated  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  an  opportunity  to  desert  him 
in  the  manner  they  afterwards  did. 

The  vessel  in  which  Smith  was  a prisoner 
soon  separated  from  the  rest  of  the  fleet,  and 
spent  some  time  in  cruising  among  the  Azores; 
where,  says  he,  “to  keepe  my  perplexed  thoughts  ! 
from  too  much  meditation  of  my  miserable  estate, 

I writ  this  discourse  (a  narrative  of  his  voyage 
to  New  England)  thinking  to  have  sent  it  to  his 
Majesty's  Councell  by  some  ship  or  other,  for  I 
saw  their  purpose  was  to  take  all  they  could." 
They  evidently  construed  their  commission  very 
liberally,  paying  little  attention  to  either  its  letter 

enough  to  induce  them  to  provide  more  vessels  for  fishing. 
“Much  difference,”  he  continues,  “there  was  betwixt  the 
Londoners  and  Westerlings  to  ingrosse  it,  who  now  would 
adventure  thousands,  that  when  1 first  went  would  not  ad- 
venture a groat.” 


t 


208 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


or  spirit  whenever  either  were  likely  to  stand  in 
the  way  of  their  interest.  Even  the  old  rule, 
“honor  among  rogues,”  was  disregarded  in  more 
than  one  instance.  We  are  told  that  they  fell 
in  with  “one  Captain  Barra,  an  English  Pirat  in 
a small  ship,  with  some  twelve  peeces  of  ord- 
nance, about  thirty  men,  and  neere  all  starved.” 
They  courteously  sought  relief,  which  was  fairly 
promised  them,  and  sent  a boat  with  the  lieuten-  j 
ant  and  five  or  six  men  for  the  expected  supply  ; j 
but  no  sooner  were  they  on  board,  than  the 
treacherous  Frenchman  prepared  to  take  the 
rest  perforce.  Barra,  perceiving  their  intentions, 
got  ready  for  action,  and  his  lieutenant  “as  reso- 
lutely regarded  not  their  threats,”  which  brought 
those  double-dealers  to  the  conclusion  that  “dis 
cretion  would  be  the  better  part  of  valor.”  After 
deliberating  some  sixteen  hours  upon  the  matter,  | 
they  agreed  to  restore  the  lieutenant  and  his 
men,  and  to  furnish  a quantity  of  provisions  for 
a suitable  compensation. 

Two  months  was  Smith  detained  by  these 
freebooters;  being  compelled  during  that  time 
to  “manage  their  fights  against  the  Spaniards,” 
and  to  remain  a prisoner  in  the  cabin  whenever 
they  encountered  any  English.  Quite  a list  of 
their  captures,  comprising  some  of  almost  every  ; 
nation,  is  furnished  by  the  unfortunate  hero; 
but  w*e  must  content  ourselves  with  quoting  two 
examples,  as  fair  specimens  of  the  w hole : “ The 
next  we  tooke  was  a small  English  man  of  Poole 
from  New  found  land : the  great  cabben  at  this 
present  wras  my  prison,  from  whence  I could  see 


C/U'TAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


209 


them  pillage  these  poore  men  of  all  they  had, 
and  half  their  fish.  When  hee  was  gone,  they 
sold  his  poore  clothes  at  the  maine  mast  by  an 
out-cry,  which  scarce  gave  each  man  seven 
pence  a piece/’  * # % “ Within  a day  | 

or  two  after,  we  met  a West  Indies  man  of  warre, 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  tuns : a fore  noone  we  j 
fought  with  her,  and  then  tooke  her  with  one  ; 
thousand  one  hundred  hides,  fiftie  chests  of  | 
cutchanele,  fourteen  coffers  of  wedges  of  silver,  j 
eight  thousand  rialls  of  eight,  and  six  coffers  of  | 
the  King  of  Spaine’s  treasure,  besides  the  good  j 
pillage  and  rich  coffers  of  many  rich  passengers/’ 

It  is  quite  apparent,  from  the  tone  in  which  his 
encounters  with  the  Spaniards  is  descyibed,  that 
he  enjoyed  them  as  a sort  of  pleasant  pastime;  j 
and  no  doubt  on  such  occasions  he  displayed  all 
his  accustomed  bravery  and  martial  cunning;  for  ; 
his  captors  repeatedly  promised  that,  when  they  j 
arrived  in  France,  he  should  have  “ double  satis-  [ 
faction  and  full  content,”  and  ten  thousand 
crowns  was  generally  agreed  upon  as  his  shaje 
of  the  spoils.  When,  however,  the  cruise  ter- 
minated, and  their  vessel  made  a harbor  near 
Rochelle,  the  liberal  promises  of  the  captain 
were  forgotten;  and  Smith,  instead  of  gaining 
his  freedom  and  something  to  repay  his  losses, 
found  the  liberty  he  had  previously  enjoyed  very 
materially  abridged.  In  addition  to  this  injustice, 
he  was  accused  of  having  burned  the  French 
colony  at  Port  Royal  in  1013;  (an  outrage  per- 
petrated by  Captain  Argali;)  but  the  object  of 
this  accusation  was  to  force  him  to  give  them  a 
18* 


210 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


discharge  before  the  admiralty  judge,  and  to  rely 
upon  their  generosity  for  satisfaction  for  his  in- 
juries. Although  he  knew  himself  to  be  much 
in  their  power,  he  was  not  disposed  to  comply 
with  their  iniquitous  demands;  and  neither  the  j 
terrors  of  imprisonment  “ ora  worse  mischiefe” 
could  make  him  swerve  from  his  integrity.  At 
that  period  justice  was  hard  to  be  obtained ; in 
the  expressive  language  of  Smith,  it  was  “a 
time  of  combustion — the  Prince  of  Conde  with 
his  army  in  the  field,  and  every  poore  lord,  or 
man  in  authoritie,  as  little  kings  of  themselves,  j 
I For  this  injury  was  done  me  by  them  that  set 
out  this  voyage ; not  by  the  sailers,  for  they  were 
cheated  of  all  as  well  as  I,  by  a few  officers 
aboard  and  the  owners  on  shore.” — To  escape  j 
the  awkward  dilemma  in  which  he  was  placed,  ! 
he  was  willing  to  take  his  chance  of  meeting  still 
greater  difficulties.  One  night,  when  a fearful 
storm  was  raging,  which  “beat  them  all  under 
hatches,”  he  seized  the  opportunity  of  “taking 
French  leave.”  Being  favored  by  the  darkness, 
he  secretly  got  into  the  boat,  and  with  nothing 
but  a half  pike,  accidentally  picked  up,  cut 
adrift,  expecting  to  be  cast  upon  a small  island 
near  by;  but  the  current  was  so  strong  and  the 
waves  ran  so  high,  that  he  was  carried  out.  to 
sea,  “till  it  pleased  God  the  wind  so  turned  with 
the  tide,  that  although  he  was  all  this  fearful  1 
night  of  gusts  and  raine  in  the  sea  the  space  of 
twelve  houres,  when  many  ships  were  driven  j 
ashore,  and  divers  split,”  at  last  he  was  thrown 
on  a marshy  isle,  where  certain  fowlers  found  ; 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  211 

him,  “neere  drowned,  and  half  dead  with  water, 
cold  and  hunger.”  He  pawned  his  boat  for  the 
means  of  getting  to  Rochelle,  and  there  learned 
that  the  ship  which  he  had  so  daringly  and  so 
fortunately  left,  had  been  totally  wrecked,  to- 
gether with  the  rich  prize,  and  the  captain  and 
nearly  half  his  crew  drowned.  On  entering  a 
complaint  before  the  admiralty  judge,  he  found 
many  good  words  and  fair  promises,  and  ere 
long  many  of  those  that  escaped  drowning,  told 
him  the  news  they  heard  of  his  own  death.*’ 
Causing  several  of  them  to  be  arrested,  their 
examinations  did  so  far  confirm  his  complaint, 
that  the  proof  was  held  sufficient.  A statement 
of  the  facts  in  the  case,  properly  attested  by  the 
judge,  was  placed  in  the  English  ambassador’s., 
hands,  at  Bordeaux;  but  whether  the  claims 
were  ever  adjusted  satisfactorily,  or  were  suf- 
fered to  drag  out  a protracted  existence  until  all 
the  parties  were  in  “a  higher  sphere,”  (like  the 
French  spoliation  claims,  so  long  before  our 
American  Congress,)  is  one  of  those  mysteries 
which  we  have  no  means  of  solving.  It  is 
pretty  certain,  however,  that  Smith  did  not 
realize  any  thing  at  that  particular  period;  for 
he  sets  forth  his  good  fortune  in  again  meeting 
his  “old  friend  Master  Crampton,  who  no  less 
grieved  at  his  loss,  than  willingly  to  his  power 
did  supply  his  wants;  and,”  he  adds,  “I  must 
confess  I was  more  beholden  to  the  Frenchmen 
that  escaped  drowning  in  the  man  of  wane,  - 
Madame  Chanoyes  at  Rotchell,  and  the  lawyers 
of  Burdeaux,  than  all  the  rest  of  my  country- 


212  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

men  I left  in  France.”  Leaving  his  affairs  in 
the  best  train  he  could  for  adjustment,  he  em- 
braced the  earliest  opportunity  of  returning  to 
England. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Smith  and  his  Crew  of  Deserters : He  engages  again  with  the 
Plyrnoutheans  : Publishes  his  Book  on  New  England:  is 
created  Admiral  of  that  Country— -Arrival  of  Pocahontas— 
Interview  with  Smith — Distinction  between  the  Laws  of  Na- 
ture and  the  Laws  of  State  Etiquette — Smith’s  Letter  to  die 
Queen  in  behalf  of  Pocahontas,  who  is  favorably  received 
at  Court  and  elsewhere — Amusing'  Incidents  of  Smith’s  first 
Interview  with  Pocahontas — Hopeless  Mission  of  Uttama- 
tomakkin  to  Number  the  People:  His  Correct  Idea  of  King 
James — Change  in  the  Affairs  of  Virginia — Rolfe  appointed 
to  Office — Unexpected  Death  of  Pocahontas:  Her  Little 
Son  adopted  by  his  Uncle:  Is  educated  in  London,  and 
returns  to  Virginia:  His  Numerous  Descendants — Char- 
acter of  Pocahontas. 

On  reaching  Plymouth,  Smith’s  first  care 
seems  to  have  been  to  look  after  the  sailors  who 
had  so  villanously  abandoned  him  to  his  fate 
among  the  French  freebooters.  “The  chief- 
taines  of  this  mutiny,”  he  says,  “I  laid  by  the 
heels;”  but  he  seems  to  have  gained  but  little 
satisfaction,  in  any  point  of  view,  except  the 
clearing  of  his  character  from  certain  vile  as- 
persions which  some  of  them  heaped  upon  it. 

Exemplifying  that  the  saying,  “burned  children 
dread  the  fire,”  was  not  one  of  his  axioms,  he 
was  again  induced  to  engage  with  the  Plymouth 
adventurers;  but  after  the  loss  of  considerable 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  213 

j . I 

time  and  money,  he  “ found  all  things  as  unto- 
ward as  before,  and  all  their  great  promises  j 
nothing  but  aire.” 

We  have  already  seen  that  he  passed  some 
portion  of  his  time,  while  a prisoner  among  the 
French,  in  writing  an  account  of  his  voyages, 
and  describing  the  countries  he  had  previously 
visited.  Regarding  this  as  a favorable  oppor- 
tunity for  giving  to  the  public  that  portion  of  his 
work  which  related  to  New  England,  it  was  ac- 
cordingly printed  in  June,  1616,  accompanied 
with  his  map  of  the  country.  The  object  of 
this  publication  was  to  awaken  attention  to  the 
importance  of  forming  settlements,  and  also  to 
exhibit  the  great  commercial  advantages  likely 
to  result  from  the  newly-discovered  fisheries. 

So  indefatigable  was  Smith  in  the  promotion  of 
his  favorite  object,  that  he  spent  the  whole  sum- 
mer in  visiting  the  cities  and  towns  in  the  west 
of  England,  calling  upon  every  person  of  any 
note,  and  giving  them  books  and  maps,  to  the 
number  of  seven  thousand.  “By  this  incitation,” 
he  says,  “they  seemed  so  well  pleased,  that  they 
promised  twenty  saile  of  ships  should  goe  with 
me  next  yeere;  and  in  regard  to  my  paines, 
charge,  and  former  losses,  the  western  commis- 
sioners, in  behalf  of  themselves  and  the  rest  of 
the  company,  and  them  hereafter  that  should  be 
joined  to  them,  contracted  with  me,  by  articles 
indented  under  our  hands,  to  be  Admiral  of  that 
country  [New  England]  during  my  life,  and  in 
the  renewal  of  their  letters-patents  so  to  be 
nominated.” 


214 


LTFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


While  thus  zealously  engaged  in  forwarding 
his  schemes  for  the  future  settlement  of  America, 
Smith  was  unexpectedly  apprised  of  the  arrival 
of  his  friend  and  benefactress  Pocahontas,  or 
the  Lady  Rebecca , as  she  was  generally  called. 
Although  greatly  occupied  in  the  business  dear- 
est to  his  heart,  he  gladly  seized  upon  every 
opportunity  to  show  that  her  former  kindness 
was  still  as  much  appreciated  as  ever.  Their 
meeting  being  quite  unexpected  by  both,  was  the 
more  agreeable,  as  she  had  heard  that  he  was 
i dead,  and  knew  not  to  the  contrary  until  after  her 
| arrival.  She  had  undergone  a strange  trans- 
| formation  since  they  last  parted;  being  now 
1 about  twenty-two  years  of  age,  her  person  grace- 
ful, and  her  deportment  gentle  and  prepossessing. 
By  the  diligent  care  of  her  husband  and  his 
| friends,  she  had  been  “ taught  to  speak  such 
English  as  might  well  be  understood,  was  well 
instructed  in  Christianity,  and  was  become  very 
formal  and  civil,  after  the  English  manner.”  A 
son,  too,  had  blessed  her  marriage,  of  which  she 
was  extremely  fond  ; and  the  Virginia  Company 
had  made  liberal  provision  for  the  handsome 
maintenance  of  both  herself  and  child.  King 
James,  at  first,  it  is  true,  threw  somewhat  of  a 
damper  upon  the  happiness  of  Rolfe,  affecting 
to  be  highly  offended  at  his  presumption  in  seek- 
ing an  alliance  with  royalty.  “ That  anointed 
pedant,”  says  Stith,  “had  so  high  an  idea  of  the 
Jits  divinum , and  indefeasible  right  of  Pow- 
hatan, that  he  held  it  a great  crime  and  misde- 
meanor for  any  private  gentleman  to  mingle 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  215 

with  his  imperial  blood.  And  he  might  perhaps 
likewise  think,  consistently  with  his  own  princi- 
ples, that  the  right  to  dominion  in  Virginia  would 
thereby  become  vested  in  Mr.  Rolfe’s  posterity/' 
However,  it  passed  off  without  any  further  bad 
consequence  than  a little  petty  exhibition  of  dis- 
pleasure and  murmuring — the  results  of  innate 
and  despicable  meanness. 

It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say  that,  notwith- 
standing the  numerous  pre-engagements  of  Smith 
put  it  out  of  his  power  to  render  that  constant 
attention  and  service  to  Pocahontas  which  he 
desired;  yet,  “ being  well  acquainted  at  court, 
and  particularly  favored  and  countenanced  by 
Prince  Charles,  he  drew  up,  and  presented  to 
the  queen,  before  her  arrival  in  London,  a repre- 
sentation of  her  case  and  desert."  Considering 
this  memorial  well  worthy  of  transmission  to 
posterity,  we  take  leave  to  help  it  along  towards 
them,  as  far  as  our  book  may  go — copying  ver- 
batim from  the  writer’s  own  publication  : 

To  the  Most  High  and  Vertuous  Princesse  Queene  Anne 
of  Great  Brittaine. 

Most  admired  Queene  : The  loue  I beare  my 
God,  my  King  and  Countrie  hath  so  oft  emboldened 
mee  in  the  worst  of  extreme  dangers,  that  now  hon- 
estie  doth  constraine  mee  presume  thus  farre  beyond 
my  selfe,  to  present  your  Majestie  this  short  dis- 
course : if  ingratitude  be  a deadly  poyson  to  all 
honest  vertues,  I must  bee  guiltie  of  that  crime  if  I 
should  omit  any  meanes  to  bee  thankfull.  So  it  is, 

That  some  ten  yeeres  agoe  being  in  Virginia,  and 
taken  prisoner  by  the  power  of  Powhatan  their  chiefe 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


| 210 


1 King,  I receiued  from  this  great  Saluage  exceeding 
great  courtesie,  especially  from  his  sonne  Nanta- 
quaus,  the  most  manliest,  comeliest,  boldest  spirit,  I 
euer  saw  in  a Saluage,  and  his  sister  Pocahontas,  the 
Kings  most  deare  and  wel-beloued  daughter,  being 
but  a childe  of  twelue  or  thirteene  yeeres  of  age, 
whose  compassionate  pitifull  heart,  of  desperate  es- 
tate, gaue  me  much  cause  to  respect  her : I being 
the  first  Christian  this  proud  King  and  his  grim  at- 
, tendants  euer  saw  : and  thus  inthralled  in  their  bar- 
barous power,  I cannot  say  I felt  the  least  occasion 
j of  want  that  was  in  the  power  of  those  my  mortall 
foes  to  preuent,  notwithstanding  all  their  threats. — 
After  some  six  weeks  fatting  amongst  those  Saluage 
j Courtiers,  at  the  minute  of  my  execution,  she  haz- 
arded the  beating  out  j>f  her  owne  braines  to  saue 
i mine,  and  not  onely  that,  but  so  preuailed  with  her 
| father,  that  I was  safely  conducted  to  lames  towne, 
where  I found  about  eight  and  thirtie  miserable  poore 
and  sicke  creatures,  to  keepe  possession  of  all  those 
large  territories  of  Virginia,  such  was  the  weaknesse 
of  this  poore  Commonwealth,  as  had  the  Saluages  ! 
not  fed  vs,  we  directly  had  starued. 

And  this  reliefe,  most  gracious  Queene,  was  com- 
monly brought  vs  by  this  Lady  Pocahontas,  notwith- 
standing all  these  passages  when  inconstant  Fortune 
turned  our  peace  to  warre,  this  tender  Virgin  would 
still  not  spare  to  dare  to  visit  vs,  and  by  her  our 
jarres  haue  been  oft  appeased,  and  our  wants  still  j 
supplyed  ; were  it  the  policie  of  her  father  thus  to 
employ  her,  or  the  ordinance  of  God  thus  to  make 
her  his  instrument,  or  her  extraordinarie  affection 
to  our  Nation,  I know  not:  but  of  this  I am  sure; 
when  her  father  with  the  vtmost  of  his  policie  and 
j!  power,  sought  to  surprize  mee,  hauing  but  eighteene 
j 

i ..  


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  217 

with  mee,  the  dark  night  could  not  affright  her  from 
coming  through  the  irkesome  woods,  and  with  water, 
ed  eies  gaue  mee  intelligence,  with  her  best  aduice  i 
to  escape  his  furie ; which  had  hee  knowne,  hee  had 
surely  slaine  her.  lames  towne  with  her  wild  traine 
she  as  freely  frequented,  as  her  fathers  habitation  ; 
and  during  the  time  of  two  or  three  yeeres,  she  next 
vnder  God,  was  still  the  instrument  to  preserue  this 
Colonie  from  death,  famine  and  vtter  confusion,  which 
if  in  those  times  had  once  beene  dissolued,  Virginia 
might  haue  lain  as  it  was  at  our  first  arriuall  to  this 
day.  Since  then,  this  businesse  hauing  beene  turned  j 
and  varied  by  many  accidents  from  that  I left  it  at:  I 

it  is  most  certaine,  after  a long  and  troublesome  warre  j 
after  my  departure,  betwixt  her  father  and  our  Colo- 
nie, all  which  time  shee  was  not  heard  of,  about  two 
yeeres  after  she  her  selfe  was  taken  prisoner,  being  ' 
so  detained  neere  two  yeeres  longer,  the  Colonie  by  j 
that  means  was  relieued,  peace  concluded,  and  at 
last  rejecting  her  barbarous  condition,  was  married 
to  an  English  Gentleman,  with  whom  at  this  present 
she  is  in  England ; the  first  Christian  euer  of  that  j 
Nation,  the  first  Virginian  euer  spake  English,  or  j 
had  a childe  in  marriage  by  an  Englishman,  a mat- 
ter surely,  if  my  meaning  bee  truly  considered  and 
well  vnderstood,  worthy  a princes  vnderstanding. 

Thus,  most  gracious  Lady,  I haue  related  to  your 
Maiestie,  what  at  your  best  leasure  our  approued 
Histories  will  account  you  at  large,  and  done  in  the 
time  of  your  Maiesties  life,  and  howeuer  this  might 
bee  presented  you  from  a more  worthy  pen,  it  cannot 
from  a more  honest  heart.  As  yet  I neuer  begged 
any  thing  of  the  state,  or  any,  and  it  is  my  want  of 
abilitie  and  her  exceeding  desert,  your  birth,  meanes, 
and  authorise,  her  birth,  vertue,  want  and  simplicitie, 

19 


I 218  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

i : 

doth  make  mee  thus  bold  humbly  to  beseech  your 
Maiestie  to  take  this  knowledge  of  her,  though  it  be 
from  one  so  vnworthy  to  be  the  reporter,  as  my. 
selfe,  her  husbands  estate  not  being  able  to  make 

\ O 

her  fit  to  attend  your  Maiestie  : the  most  and  least  I 
can  doe,  is  to  tell  you  this,  because  none  so  oft  hath 
tried  it  as  myselfe;  and  the  rather  being  of  so  great 
a spirit,  howeuer  her  stature  : if  she  should  not  be 
well  receiued,  seeing  this  Kingdoms  may  rightly 
haue  a Kingdome  by  her  means:  her  present  loue 
to  vs  and  Christianitie,  might  turne  to  such  scorne 
and  furie,  as  to  diuert  all  this  good  to  the  worst  of 
| euill,  where  finding  so  great  a Queene  should  doe 
her  some  honour  more  than  she  can  imagine,  for 
being  so  kinde  to  your  seruants  and  subjects,  would  so 
| rauish  her  with  content,  as  endeare  her  deadest  bloud 
j to  effect  that  your  Maiestie  and  all  the  Kings  honest 
| subjects  most  earnestly  desire : And  so  I humbly 
| kisse  your  gracious  hand. 

An  “Indian  princess'’  was  a curiosity  that 
had  not  probably  been  seen  in  England  before; 
and  Pocahontas  was  eagerly  sought  and  kindly 
entertained  every  where.  Many  courtiers  and 
others  of  his  acquaintance  daily  flocked  to  Cap- 
tain Smith,  to  be  introduced  to  her.  “They 
generally  confessed,”  says  he,  “that  the  hand  of 
God  did  visibly  appear  ip  her  conversion;  and 
that  they  had  seen  many  English  ladies  less 
favored,  of  less  exact  proportion,  and  genteel 
carriage  than  she  was.  She  was  carried  to 
court  by  Lady  Delaware,  attended  by  Lord  D., 
her  husband,  and  divers  other  persons  of  fashion 
and  distinction.  The  whole  court  were  charmed 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  219 

and  surprised  at  the  decency  and  grace  of  her  de- 
portment; and  the  king  himself,  and  queen,  were 
pleased  honorably  to  receive  and  esteem  her. 
Lady  Delaware  and  other  persons  of  quality 
also  waited  upon  her  to  the  masks,  balls,  plays, 
and  other  public  entertainments,  with  which  she 
was  wonderfully  pleased  and  delighted ; and  she 
would  doubtless  have  well  deserved  and  fully 
returned  all  this  respect  and  kindness  had  she 
lived  to  arrive  in  Virginia.” 

The  account  of  Smith’s  first  interview  with  his 
preserver  in  England,  is  too  characteristic  to  be 
omitted.  It  took  place  at  Brentford,  whither  she 
had  been  removed  on  account  of  being  annoyed 
by  the  smoke  of  London,  and  whither  Smith 
repaired,  accompanied  by  several  friends.  Of 
course  she  was  as  yet  ignorant  of  the  ridiculous 
affectation  which  reigned  at  court,  and  when  he 
entered  the  apartment,  she  ran  to  embrace  him, 
calling  him  father ; and  on  perceiving  that  the 
warm  outgushings  of  her  grateful  feelings  were 
met  by  the  cold  and  formal  salutation  required 
by  court  etiquette,  she  turned  from  him  in  a 
passionate  manner,  hid  her  face,  and  could  not 
be  brought  to  speak  a word  for  two  or  three 
hours;  so  that,  Smith  says,  he  repented  himself 
“to  have  writ  she  could  speak  English.”  After 
overcoming  this  unexpected  rebuff,  (for  as  such 
she  regarded  it)  she  began  to  talk,  and  reminded 
him  of  the  many  services  she  had  rendered  him, 
and  of  the  strict  alliance  between  him  and  her 
father. 

“You  promised  him,”  said  she,  “that  what  was 


220  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

yours,  should  be  his,  and  he  the  like  to  you. — 
You  called  him  father,  being  in  his  land  a 
stranger,  and  by  the  same  reason  so  must  I do 
you.” 

Smith  here  undertook  to  explain,  probably 
sotto  voce,  that  “circumstances  altered  cases ;” 
that  what  would  do- very  well  in  Virginia,  would 
not  be  at  all  suitable  for  the  meridian  of  Lon- 
don; that  it  would  be  “a  breach  of  privilege” 
in  him,  a commoner,  to  call  the  daughter  of  a 
king  by  the  familiar  title  of  child;  that  it  would 
be  highly  derogatory  to  her  dignity  to  call  him 
father;  and  sundry  other  matters  of  state  re- 
quirement, which  he  at  last  made  her  compre- 
hend, only  to  despise : for,  obeying  the  impulse 
of  nature,  she  exclaimed, 

“ You  were  not  afraid  to  comejnto  my  father’s 
country,  and  cause  fear  in  him  and  all  his  people 
but  me!  And  fear  you  here  I should  call  you 
father!  I tell  ypu,  then,  I will;  and  you  shall 
call  me  child,  and  so  I will  be  for  ever  and  ever 
your  countryman ! They  did  tell  us  always  you 
were  dead,  and  I knew  not  otherwise  till  I came 
to  Plymouth ; yet  Powhatan  did  command  Utta- 
matomakkin*  to  seek  you  out,  and  know  the 
truth,  because  your  countrymen  will  lie  much.” 

As  the  saying  is,  there  was  unquestionably 
“more  truth  than  poetry”  in  this  artless  asser- 
tion of  Mrs.  Rolfe,  (which  is,  after  all,  her  most 
legitimate  title,)  and  Smith  did  not  attempt  to 
gainsay  it. 

* Orthography  of  Smith;  Tomocomo,  according  to  Stith ; 
Uttamaccomac,  according  to  Belknap. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


221 


Her  travelling  attendant,  just  named,  (it  would 
be  cruelty  to  repeat  the  name  again  in  so  brief 
an  interval,)  was  a chief  who  had  married  one 
of  Powhatan’s  daughters — a personage  of  no 
! small  consequence  at  home.  He  was  not  simply 
a fellow-traveller  with  his  niece-in-law,  but  had 
been  sent  as  a sort  of  spy  and  envoy  extraor- 
dinary, (a  combination  by  no  means  unusual 
among  the  primitive  Indians,)  to  number  the 
people,  and  to  observe  their  strength  and  gen- 
eral condition.  On  arriving  at  Plymouth,  ac- 
cording to  his  directions,  “he  got  a long  stick, 
whereon  by  notches  he  did  think  to  have  kept 
the  number  of  all  the  men  he  could  see;”  but 
he  soon  became  weary  of  that  task,  threw  away 
his  stick,  and  gave  up  the  undertaking  as  im- 
practicable.— Being  asked  by  Powhatan,  after 
his  return,  how  many  people  there  were,  it  is 
said  that  he  replied,  “Count  the  stars  in  the  sky, 
the  leaves  on  the  trees,  and  the  sand  upon  the 
sea-shore ; for  such  is  the  number  of  the  people 
in  England.”  Sir  Thomas  Dale  and  Mr.  Pur- 
chas  venture  to  surmise  that  the  object  of  his 
mission  was  not  so  much  to  number  the  people, 
as  to  “take  an  account  of  their  corn  and  trees.” 
“Namontack  and  such  others  as  had  been  sent 
to  England  formerly,  being  ignorant  and  silly, 
and  having  seen  little  else  besides  London,  had 
reported  much  of  their  men  and  houses,  but 
thought  they  had  small  store  of  corn  and  trees ; 
and  it  was  therefore  a general  opinion  among 
these  barbarians  that  the  English  came  into 
their  country  to  get  a supply  of  these,  which 
19* 


1 


222  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

might  be  strengthened  and  confirmed  bv  their 
sending  large  quantities  of  cedar,  clapboard,  and 
wainscot  to  England,  and  by  their  continual 
want  and  eagerness  after  corn.  But  this  am- 
bassador, landing  in  the  west,  and  travelling 
thence  to  London,  was  soon  undeceived,  and 
saw  great  cause  to  admire  the  English  plenty. ” 
When  he  came  to  London,  and  fell  in  with 
Smith,  whom  he  had  well  known  in  Virginia,  it 
did  not  take  long  to  renew  their  acquaintance, 
which  appears  to  have  been  satisfactory  to  both 
parties.  He  was  lionized  in  a manner  rather 
grateful  to  his  self-esteem,  there  being  many  of 
all  ranks  who  “were  desirous  to  see  and  hear 
his  behaviour.”  He  told  Smith  that  the  main 
purpose  of  his  commission  from  Powhatan  was 
to  find  him  out,  not  merely  to  present  his  com- 
pliments, or  for  old  acquaintance  sake,  but  that 
he  might  show  him  his  English  God  whom  he 
worshipped,  the  king,  the  queen,  and  the  prince, 
of  which  he  had  given  them  such  marvel-  j 
! lous  accounts  in  Virginia.  “ Concerning  God,” 
says  Smith,  “I  told  him  the  best  I could;  the 
king  I heard  he  had  seen;  and  the  rest  he  should 
see  when  he  would.  He  denied  ever  to  have 
seen  the  king,  till  by  circumstances  he  was  sat- 
isfied he  had;”  when,  with  an  expression  of 
countenance  which  showed  a proper  estimate 
of  the  inexpressible  sordidness  of  King  James, 
he  replied,  “You  gave  Powhatan  a white  dog, 
which  he  fed  as  himself ; but  your  king  gave  me 
j nothing,  and  yet  I am  better  than  your  white 
dog!”  This  unsophisticated  chief  had  no  no- 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


223 


i 

! tion  of  the  parsimony  which  disgraced  King 
j James  throughout  his  life — infusing  itself  into 
j every  transaction,  from  the  most  trivial  to  the 
most  important — amounting  in  many  instances 
to  what  would  have  been  regarded,  in  this  pro- 
! gressive  age,  as  the  meanest  kind  of  dishonesty. 

The  affairs  of  the  Virginia  Company  under-  j 
i went  some  material  modification  while  our  “il-  j 
; lustrious  strangers”  sojourned  in  England,  by 
means  of  which  Captain  Argali  was  appointed 
“ deputy-governor  of  the  colony,  and  admiral  of 
the  country  and  seas  adjoining.”  A ship  was 
! fitted  out  for  him  in  the  beginning  of  1617,  and 
arrangements  made  for  the  return  of  Pocahon- 

: o 

tas  and  her  suite — the  treasurer  and  council 
i providing  suitable  accommodations  for  herself  ; 

| and  husband  on  board  the  admiral’s  ship.  Mr.  ii 

Rolfe  was  also  made  secretary  and  recorder- 
I general  of  Virginia,  which  office  was  now  first 
instituted;  but  his  young  wife,  whose  affection-  j 
ate  devotion  he  prized  above  all  honors  and  re- 
wards, was  never  again  to  behold  her  native 
land.  Her  eyes  were  to  be  closed  among  jj 

strangers,  far  from  the  happy  scenes  of  her  I 

childhood,  and  from  the  anxious  care  of  her 
well-beloved  father,  who,  savage  though  he  was,  i 
had  ever  manifested  for  her  the  tenderest  regard,  j 
While  at  Gravesend,  (early  in  1617,)  making  | 
preparations  for  her  departure,  “it  pleased  God,” 
says  Smith,  “to  take  this  young  lady  to  his  ; 
mercy,  wrhere  she  made  not  more  sorrow  for  her  j 
i unexpected  death,  than  joy  to  the  beholders,  to  j 
| hear  and  see  her  make  so  religious  and  godly  an 


LIFE  AXD  ADVENTURES  OF 


|| 


| 


I 

I 


i 


224 

end.  Her  little  child,  Thomas  Rolfe,  was  left 
at  Plymouth  with  Sir  Lewis  Steukley,”  who 
was  desirous  of  undertaking  the  care  of  rearing 
and  educating  it  as  his  own;  but  unforeseen 
misfortunes  frustrating  his  praiseworthy  design, 
the  little  fellow  was  subsequently  taken  to  Lon- 
don, where  he  was  educated  by  his  uncle,  Mr. 
Henry  Rolfe,  and  afterwards  became  a person 
of  fortune  and  distinction  in  Virginia.  We  are 
told  by  Stith  that  he  left  an  only  daughter,  who 
was  married  to  Colonel  Robert  Bolling,  by  whom 
she  had  an  only  son,  Major  John  Bolling,  who 
was  father  to  Colonel  John  Bolling  and  several 
daughters.  These  were  married  to  Colonel 
Richard  Randolph,  Colonel  John  Fleming,  Dr. 
William  Gay,  Mr.  Thomas  Eldridge,  and  Miv 
James  Murray.  “This  remnant  of  the  impe- 
rial family  of  Virginia,  which  long  ran  in  a sin- 
gle person,  is  now  increased  and  branched  out 
into  a very  numerous  progeny  ” — many  of  whom 
are  more  prone  to  boast  of  their  descent  from 
Pocahontas,  than  to  imitate  the  virtues  and 
graces  for  which  she  was  so  singularly  distin- 
guished. It  is  well  known  that  the  late  John 
Randolph — celebrated  alike  for  his  talents,  his 
patriotism,  and  his  eccentricities — was  prouder 
of  the  relation  he  bore  to  his  amiable  ancestress, 
distant  though  it  was,  than  of  all  his  achieve- 
ments as  a scholar,  a statesman,  or  a sportsman. 

The  historian,  the  poet,  and  the  painter,  have 
all  been  eloquent  in  depicting  the  character  of 
Pocahontas;  her  fame  is  in  all  lands,  and  her 
praise  is  on  all  tongues.  Had  we  the  ability  to 


i 


i) 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  225 

do  justice  to  the  theme,  we  should  shrink  in- 
stinctively from  the  task,  as  a vain  attempt  to 
“add  a perfume  to  the  violet.”  We  cannot, 
however,  resist  the  temptation  to  transplant 
what  follows  from  Mr.  Hillard's  excellent  life  of 
Captain  Smith: 

“ It  is  difficult  to  speak  of  the  character  of  Poca- 
hontas, without  falling  into  extravagance.  Though 
our  whole  knowledge  of  her  is  confined  to  a few  bril- 
liant and  striking  incidents,  yet  there  is  in  them  so 
complete  a consistency,  that  reason,  as  well  as  imagin- 
ation, permits  us  to  construct  the  whole  character  from 
these  occasional  manifestations.  She  seems  to  have 
possessed  every  quality  essential  to  the  perfection  of 
the  female  character ; the  most  graceful  modesty, 
the  most  winning  sensibility,  strong  affections,  ten- 
derness and  delicacy  of  feeling,  dovelike  gentleness, 
and  most  entire  disinterestedness.  These  beautiful 
qualities  were  not  in  her  nurtured  and  trained  by  the 
influences  of  refined  life,  but  were  the  native  and 
spontaneous  growth  of  her  heart  and  soul. 

“ Her  mind  had  not  been  formed  and  fed  by  books, 
or  the  conversation  of  the  gifted  and  cultivated  ; the 
| nameless  graces  of  polished  life  had  not  surrounded 
her  from  her  birth,  and  created  that  tact  in  manner 
and  deportment,  and  becoming  propriety  in  carriage 
and  conversation,  which  all  well-bred  people,  however 
differing  originally  in  refinement  and  delicacy  of 
perception,  seem  to  possess  in  about  the  same  degree ; 
nor  had  the  coarse  forms  of  actual  life  been,  to  her 
eyes,  concealed  by  the  elegant  drapery  which  civili- 
zation throws  over  them.  From  her  earliest  years 
she  had  been  familiar  with  rude  ways  of  living,  un- 
couth habits,  and  lawless  passions.  Yet  she  seems 


226  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

to  have  been,  from  the  first,  a being  distinct  from 
and  unlike  her  people,  though  in  the  midst  of  them. 
She  reminds  one  of  a delicate  wild- flower,  growing 
up  in  the  cleft  of  a rock,  where  the  eye  can  discern 
no  soil  for  its  roots  to  grasp,  and  sustain  its  slender 
stalk.  We  behold  her  as  she  came  from  the  hands  of 
her  Maker,  who  seems  to  have  created  her  in  a spirit 
of  rebuke  to  the  pride  of  civilization,  giving  to  an 
Indian  girl,  reared  in  the  depths  of  a Virginian  forest, 
that  symmetry  of  feminine  loveliness,  which  we  but 
seldom  see,  with  all  our  helps  and  appliances,  and 
all  that  moral  machinery  with  which  we  work  upon 
the  raw  material  of  character. 

“But  in  our  admiration  of  what  is  lovely  and  at- 
tractive in  the  character  of  Pocahontas,  we  must  not 
overlook  the  higher  moral  qualities,  which  command 
respect  almost  to  reverence.  Moral  courage,  dignity, 
and  independence  are  among  her  most  conspicuous 
traits.  Before  we  can  do  justice  to  them,  we  must 
take  into  consideration  the  circumstances  under  which 
they  were  displayed.  At  the  time  when  the  English 
first  appeared  in  Virginia,  she  was  a child  but  twelve 
or  thirteen  years  old.  These  formidable  strangers 
immediately  awakened  in  the  breast  of  her  people 
the  strongest  passions  of  hatred  and  fear,  and  Captain 
Smith,  in  particular,  was  looked  upon  as  a being 
whose  powers  of  injuring  them  were  irresistible  and 
superhuman.  What  could  have  been  more  natural 
than  that  this  young  girl  should  have  had  all  these 
feelings  exaggerated  by  the  creative  imagination  of 
childhood,  that  Captain  Smith  should  have  haunted 
her  dreams,  and  that  she  should  not  have  had  the 
courage  to  look  upon  the  man  to  whom  her  excited 
fancy  had  given  an  outward  appearance  correspond- 
ing to  his  frightful  attributes? 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


227 


“But  the  very  first  act  of  her  life,  as  known  to  us, 
puts  her  far  above  the  notions  and  prejudices  of  her 
people,  and  stamps  at  once  a seal  of  marked  superi- 
ority upon  her  character.  And  from  this  elevation 
she  never  descends.  Her  motives  are  peculiar  to 
herself,  and  take  no  tinge  from  the  passions  and 
opinions  around  her.  She  thinks  and  acts  for  her- 
self, and  does  not  hesitate,  when  thereto  constrained, 
to  leave  her  father,  and  trust  for  protection  to  that 
respect  which  was  awakened  alike  by  her  high  birth 
and  high  character  among  the  whole  Indian  race. 
It  is  certainly  a remarkable  combination  which  we 
see  in  her,  of  gentleness  and  sweetness,  with  strength 
of  mind,  decision,  and  firm  consistency  of  purpose, 
and  would  be  so  in  any  female,  reared  under  the 
most  favorable  influences. 

“ The  lot  of  Pocahontas  may  be  considered  a happy 
one,  notwithstanding  the  pang  which  her  affectionate 
nature  must  have  felt,  in  being  called  so  early  to 
part  from  her  husband  and  child.  It  was  her  good 
fortune  to  be  the  instrument,  in  the  hand  of  Provi- 
dence, for  bringing  about  a league  of  peace  and 
amity  between  her  own  nation  and  the  English,  a con- 
summation most  agreeable  to  her  taste  and  feelings. 
The  many  favors  which  she  bestowed  upon  the  co- 
lonists, were  by  them  gratefully  acknowledged,  and 
obtained  for  her  a rich  harvest  of  attentions  in  Eng- 
land. Her  name  and  deeds  have  not  been  suffered 
to  pass  out  of  the  minds  of  men,  nor  are  they  dis- 
cerned only  by  the  glimmering  light  of  tradition. 
Captain  Smith  seems  so  have  repaid  the  vast  debt  of 
gratitude  which  he  owed  her,  by  the  immortality 
which  his  eloquent  and  feeling  pen  has  given  her. 
Who  has  not  heard  the  beautiful  story  of  her  heroism, 
and  who  that  has  heard  it  has  not  felt  his  heart  throb 


223  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

quick  with  generous  admiration?  She  has  become 
one  of  the  darlings  of  history,  and  her  name  is  as 
familiar  as  a household  word  to  the  numerous  and 
powerful  descendants  of  the  ‘feeble  folk,5  whom  she 
protected  and  befriended. 

“ She  has  been  a powerful,  though  silent,  advocate 
in  behalf  of  the  race  to  which  she  belonged.  Her 
deeds  have  covered  a multitude  of  their  sins.  When 
disgusted  with  numerous  recitals  of  their  cruelty 
and  treachery,  and  about  to  pass  an  unfavorable 
judgment  in  our  minds  upon  the  Indian  character, 
at  the  thought  of  Pocahontas  our  ‘rigor  relents.’ 
With  a softened  heart,  we  are  ready  to  admit  that 
there  must  have  been  fine  elements  in  a people  from 
among  whom  such  a being  could  spring.” 

Having  thus  disposed  of  the  characters  who 
figured  in  this  necessary  episode  of  our  history, 
we  shall  hereafter  confine  ourselves  to  inci- 
dents more  immediately  connected  with  Cap- 
tain Smith. 


CArTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


229 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Smith’s  Efforts  to  colonize  New  England  and  establish  Fish- 
eries— Causes  of  Holland’s  Prosperity — Resources  of  New 
England — Appeal  to  the  Spirit  of  Independence — Death  of 
Powhatan  : His  Successor — Treachery  of  Opechancanough 
— Jack  of  the  Feather — Horrible  Massacre  of  the  Settlers : 
its  Effect  upon  the  Colony — Retribution — Offer  of  Smith— 
Slanders  of  Argali  and  his  Associates  against  the  Colony — 
Favorable  Testimony  of  Smith:  Recapitulation  of  his  Vir- 
ginian Adventures : His  Answers  to  Interrogatories  pro- 
pounded by  Commissioners  to  investigate  the  Affairs  of  the 
Colony — Abrogation  of  the  Charter  of  the  Virginia  Company 
— Smith  engages  in  the  publication  of  several  Valuable 
Works  : His  Death  : Prominent  Characteristics. 

Captain  Smith's  book,  entitled,  “New  Eng- 
land's Tryal,"  was  the  first  to  recommend  the 
formation  of  new  settlements  in  this  unregarded 
country;  “but  after  the  business  was  made  plain, 
and  likely  to  prosper,"  some  who  had  at  once 
eagerly  embarked  in  it,  not  only  forgot  his 
claims  and  their  promises,  but  also  endeavored 
to  deprive  him  of  the  credit  of  having  originated 
the  project.  The  perishing  of  his  bright  pros- 
pects at  Plymouth,  he  could  submit  to  with  be- 
coming fortitude  and  Christian  resignation;  but 
when  he  perceived  a lukewarmness  on  the  part 
of  many  others,  who  were  foremost  in  their 
proffers  of  assistance  at  the  onset,  he  almost 
gave  up  in  despair,  concluding  that  “all  availed 
no  more  than  to  hew  rocks  with  oyster-shells." 
As  a last  resort,  he  “caused  two  or  three  thou- 
sand of  his  books  to  be  printed ; one  thousand 
of  which,  with  a great  many  maps,  both  of  Yir- 


230  LIFE  A XI)  ADVEXTU*RES  OF 

jl 

g’nia  and  New  England,  he  presented  to  thirty 
of  the  chief  companies  of  London/’  offering 
“to  ease  them  of  the  superfluity  of  the  most  of 
their  companies  that  had  but  health  and  strength 
to  labor/’  if  they  would  but  put  to  the  right  use 
a stock  of  about  five  thousand  pounds.  He 
waited  nearly  a year,'  of  course  in  a state  of 
anxious  solicitude,  to  learn  the  result  of  their 
deliberations;  which,  he  says,  “was  to  me  a 
greater  toile  and  torment  than  to  have  been  in  j 
New  England  about  my  businesse  but  with  bred 
and  water,  and  what  I could  get  there  by  my 
labor.  But  in  conclusion,  seeing  nothing  would 
be  effected,  I was  contented  as  well  with  this 
losse  of  time  and  charge  as  all  the  rest.” 

Despite  the  untoward  discouragements  en- 
countered by  Smith,  which  would  have  effectu- 
ally checked  the  exertions  of  any  ordinary  indi-  ,! 
vidual,  he  pertinaciously  continued  to  urge  upon 
public  attention  not  only  the  feasibility  of  his 
colonizing  schemes,  but  also  the  importance  of 
the  fisheries  which  existed  throughout  the  whole 
coast  of  New  England.  Among  his  arguments 
and  deductions,  are  many  matters  which  exhibit 
a depth  of  reasoning  unsurpassed  by  the  most 
accomplished  scholars,  and  which  subsequent 
developments  prove  to  have  been  well  founded. 
The  single  advantage  of  the  trade  in  fish  is 
forcibly  insisted  on,  and  is  clearly  illustrated  bv 
the  following  allusion  to  the  prosperity  of  Hol- 
land : 

“Who  dolh  not  know  that  the  poore  Holland- 
ers, chiefly  by  fishing  at  a great  charge  and 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


231 

, # i 

labour  in  all  weathers  in  the  open  sea,  are  made 
a people  so  hardy  and  industrious?  And  by  the 
vending  this  poore  commoditie  to  the  Easter- 
lings for  as  meane — which  is  wood,  flax,  pitch, 
tarre,  rozen,  cordage,  and  such  like,  which  they 
exchange  againe  to  the  French,  Spaniards,  Por- 
j tugals,  and  English,  &c.,  for  what  they  want- 
are  made  so  mighty,  strong,  and  rich,  as  no  state 
but  Venice  of  twice  their  magnitude  is  so  well 
furnished,  with  so  many  fair  cities,  goodly  townes, 
strong  fortresses,  and  that  abundance  of  shipping, 
and  all  sorts  of  merchandize,  as  well  of  gold, 
silver,  pearles,  diamonds,  pretious  stones,”  &c. 

* * * # “What  voiages  and  discover- 

ies— east  and  west,  north  and  south — yea,  about 
the  world — make  they?  What ‘an  army  by  sea 
and  land  have  they  long  maintained,  in  despight 
of  one  of  the  greatest  princes  of  the  world! 
And  never  could  the  Spaniard,  with  all  his 
mines  of  gold  and  silver,  pay  his  debts,  his 
friends,  and  army,  half  so  truly  as  the  Holland- 
ers still  have  done  by  this  contemptible  trade  of 
fish!  Divers  (I  know)  may  alleage  many  other 
assistances;  but  this  is  the  chiefest  ruine,  and 
the  sea  the  source  of  those  silver  streames  of 
all  their  vertue,  which  hath  made  them  now  the 
very  miracle  of  industry,  the  onely  patterne  of 
perfection  for  these  affaires:  and  the  benefit  of 
fishing  is  that  primum  mobile  that  turns  all  their 
spheares  to  this  height  of  plentie,  strength,  honor, 
and  exceeding  great  admiration.”  # # * 

“If  these  can  gain,  why  should  we  more  doubt 
than  they?  # * * Here  every  man  may 


232  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

be  master  of  his  own  labour  and  land;  and  if 
he  have  nothing  but  his  hands,  he  may  set  up 
his  trade,  and  by  industry  quickly  grow  rich, 
spending  but  half  that  time  well  which  in  Eng- 
land we  abuse  in  idlenesse,  worse,  or  as  ill. 
Here  is  ground  as  good  as  any  lieth  in  the  height 
of  forty-one,  forty-two,  forty-three,  &c.,  which 
is  as  temperate  and  as  fruitful  as  any  other  par- 
allel in  the  world/' 

After  expatiating  upon  the  inexhaustible  re- 
sources of  the  new  country,  (the  fishery  being 
always  kept  prominent,)  he  reverts  to  the  ad- 
vantages inseparable  from  forming  settlements, 
and  thus  appeals  to  the  higher  principles  which 
should  actuate  men  in  aiding  his  plans: 

“Who  can  desire  more  content  that  hath 
small  meanes,  or  but  onely  his  merit  to  advance 
his  fortunes,  than  to  tread  and  plant  that  ground 
he  hath  purchased  by  the  hazard  of  his  life?  If 
he  have  but  the  taste  of  vertue  and  magnanim- 
ity, what  to  such  a minde  can  be  more  pleasant 
than  planting  and  building  a foundation  for  his 
posterity,  got  from  the  rude  earth  by  God’s  bless- 
ing and  his  owne  industry  without  prejudice  to 
any?  If  he  have  any  grain  of  faith  or  zeale  in 
religion,  what  can  he  doe  lesse  hurtful!  to  any, 
or  more  agreeable  to  God,  than  to  seeke  to  con- 
vert those  poore  salvages  to  know  Christ  and 
humanity,  whose  labours  with  discretion  will 
triple  requite  the  charge  and  paine?  What  so 
truly  sutes  with  honor  and  honesty  as  the  dis- 
covering things  unknowne,  erecting  townes, 
peopling  countries,  informing  the  ignorant,  re- 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


233 


forming  things  unjust,  and  teaching  vertue  and 
gaine  to  our  native  mother-country  ? # # # 

“So  farre  from  wronging  any,  as  to  cause  pos- 
terity to  remember  thee,  and,  remembering  the?,  | 
ever  honor  that  remembrance  with  praise/’ 

Thus  Smith  continued  for  several  years  to 
iterate  and  reiterate  his  favorable  “conclusions” 
in  regard  to  New  England.  His  publications 
| * must  have  cost  a large  amount  of  money?  to  say 
1 nothing  of  the  loss  of  his  valuable  time.  But 
although  he  reaped  no  personal  benefit,  many 
others  profited  by  his  suggestions;  and  it  is  un- 
deniable that  the  chief  impetus  given  to  emigra- 
jj  tion  hitherwards,  and  more  particularly  towards 
I the  northern  and  eastern  coasts,  was  attributa- 
ble, directly  or  indirectly,  to  his  unceasing  labors,  j 
Leaving  the  captain  for  a brief  space,  let  us 
; once  more  turn  our  attention  to  the  affairs  of 
the  settlers  in  Virginia.  Powhatan  did  not  long 
survive  the  death  of  his  daughter  Pocahontas,  ! 
but  died  the  year  following  (1618),  and  was  j 
succeeded  by  his  second  brother,  Opitchapan, 
“an  easy,  decrepit,  and  unactive  prince,”  who 
subsequently  became  a most  pliant  tool  in  aid- 
ing the  wily  designs  of  Opechancanough,  the 
prime  mover  in  all  the  treachery  which  after- 
wards marked  the  conduct  of  the  Indians. 

Notwithstanding  they  both  renewed  and  con- 
firmed the  league  with  the  English,  by  which 
evjery  man  was  guarantied  the  peaceable  pursuit 
of  his  ordinary  avocations  and  enjoyments,  yet 
the  Indians  were,  at  the  same  time,  busily  and 
extensively  plotting  the  destruction  of  the  set- 


r~ ' 


234  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

! 

tlement  “at  one  fell  swoop;”  and  at  lerigth,  bv 
means  of  a well-contrived  arrangement  of  Ope- 
chancanough’s,  their  murderous  design  was  but 
too  far  successful.  So  completely  did  they  blind 
the  settlers  by  their  duplicity,  that,  says  an  old 
chronicler,  they  even  “borrowed  our  boats  to 
transport  themselves  over  the  river  to  consult  on 
the  devilish  murder  that  ensued,  and  of  our  ut- 
ter extirpation,  which  God  of  his  mercy  (by  the 
meanes  of  one  of  themselves  converted  to 
Christianitie)  prevented.”  Although  somewhat 
prolix,  perhaps  the  following  account  of  this 
shocking  event,  condensed  from  Stith,  may  be 
more  acceptable  than  a modern  version: 

“ This  year  (1622)  is  rendered  most  memorable 
in  our  annals,  by  a cruel  and  bloody  massacre, 
concerted  by  Opechancanough  and  the  Indians, 
and  executed  on  the  English  colony,  on  the  22d 
of  March,  upon  the  following  occasion  and  man- 
ner. There  was  a noted  Indian,  called  Nemat- 
tanow,  who  was  wont,  out  of  bravery  and 
parade,  to  dress  himself  up,  in  a strange  antic 
and  barbaric  fashion,  with  feathers;  which 
therefore  obtained  him,  among  the  English,  the 
name  of  Jack  of  the  Feather.  This  Indian  was 
highly  renowned  among  his  countrymen  for 
courage  and  policy ; and  was  universally  es- 
teemed by  them  the  greatest  war-captain  of 
those  times.  He  had  been  in  many  skirmishes 
and  engagements  with  the  English,  and  bravely 
exposed  his  person;  yet  by  his  activity,  conduct, 
and  good  fortune,  he  had  always  escaped  with- 
out a wound.  This,  aided  by  his  craft  and 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  235 

ambition,  easily  wrought  in  the  minds  of  those 
ignorant  and  superstitious  barbarians,  a fond 
conceit  that  he  was  invulnerable  and  immortal. 
This  captain  came  to  the  house  of  one  Morgan, 
i who  had  many  such  commodities  as  suited  the 
| rude  taste  of  the  Indians.  Being  smit  with  the 
desire  of  some  of  those  baubles,  he  persuaded 
Morgan  to  go  with  him  to  Pamunkey,  upon  the 
promise  and  assurance  of  a certain  and  advan- 
tageous traffic.  But,  upon  the  way,  he  mur- 
dered the  poor  credulous  Englishman;  and  with- 
in two  or  three  days  returned  again  to  his  house. 
There  were  only  two  sturdy  lads  there,  the  late 
Morgan’s  servants;  who  seeing  him  wear  their  i 
master’s  cap,  asked  for  their  master,  and  Jack  j 
frankly  told  them  he  was  dead.  Being  con- 
! firmed  in  their  suspicion,  they  seized  him,  and 
! endeavored  to  carry  him  before  Mr.  Thorpe,  \ 
| who  then  lived  at  Berkeley.  But  Jack  so  pro-  j 
voked  them  by  his  resistance  and  insolence,  that 
at  last  they  shot  him  down,  and  put  him  into  a 
boat,  in  order  to  carry  him  before  the  governor, 
who  was  then  within  seven  or  eight  miles  of  the 
place.  On  the  way,  our  fainting  immortal  felt 
the  pangs  of  death  very  strong  upon  him,  and 
earnestly  entreated  the  boys  to  grant  him  two  j 
things:  first,  never  to  make  it  known  that  he 
; was  slain  by  a bullet;  and  secondly,  to  bury 
him  among  the  English,  that  the  certain  knowl- 
edge and  monument  of  his  mortality  might  be 
still  concealed,  and  kept  from  the  sight  of  his 
; countrymen. 

“As  to  this  warrior,  [Jack  of  the  Feather] 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


J 

236 

Opechancanough  was  so  far  from  being  in  his 
j favor,  that  he  had  sent  word  to  Sir  George 
Yeardley,  some  time  before,  that  he  should  be 
content  if  his  throat  were  cut.  Yet  he  being  a 
| popular  man,  and  much  lamented  by  the  Indians, 
j Opechancanough  pretended,  the  better  to  inflame 
*!  and  exasperate  them,  to  be  much  grieved  at  his 
death,  and  was  very  loud  at  first  in  his  threats 
of  revenge.  But  the  reason  and  justice  of  the 
j thing  being  evinced,  and  receiving  also  some 
• stern  and  resolute  answers  from  the  English,  he 
cunningly  dissembled  his  intent  for  the  present, 
and  treated  a messenger,  sent  to  him  about  the 
middle  of  March,  with  extreme  civility  and 
kindness,  assuring  him  that  he  held  the  peace  so 
firm,  that  the  sky  should  fall  sooner  than  it 
should  be  violated  on  his  part.  And  such  was  , 
the  treachery  and  dissimulation  of  the  rest  of 
the  Indians,  that,  but  two  days  before,  they 
kindly  conducted  the  English  through  the  woods, 
and  sent  home  one  that  lived  among  them  to 
learn  their  language.  Nay,  on  the  very  morn- 
ing of  that  fatal  day,  as  also  the  evening  before, 
they  came,  as  at  other  times,  unarmed  into  the 
houses  of  the  English,  with  deer,  turkies,  fish^ 
fruits,  and  other  things  to  sell;  and  in  some 
places  sat  down  to  breakfast  with  them.  Yet 
so  general  was  the  combination,  and  their  plot 
; so  well  laid,  to  cut  off  the  whole  colony  in  one 
day,  and  at  the  same  instant,  that  they  had  all 
warning,  one  from  another,  through  all  their 
habitations,  though  far  distant  from  each  other, 
and  every  party  and  nation  had  their  stations 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  237 

appointed,  and  parts  assigned  at  the  plantations 
of  the  English,  some  being  directed  to  one  place 
and  some  to  another. 

“The  English,  on  the  other  hand,  were  so 
confident  and  secure,  that  there  could  seldom 
be  met  with  in  their  houses  a sword  or  a fire- 
lock, and  most  of  their  plantations  were  seated 
in  a scattered  and  straggling  manner,  as  a con- 
venient situation  or  a choice  vein  of  rich  land 
invited  them;  and  indeed  it  was  generally 
thought,  the  further  from  neighbours  the  better. 
All  Indians  were  kindly  received  into  their 
houses,  fed  at  their  tables,  and  even  lodged  in 
their  bedchambers;  so  that  they  seemed  entirely 
to  have  coalesced,  and  to  live  together  as  one 
people. 

“The  hour  appointed  being  come,  and  the  In- 
dians, by  reason  of  their  familiarity,  knowing 
exactly  in  what  places  and  quarters  every  Eng- 
lishman was  to  be  found,  rose  upon  them  at  ; 
once,  sparing  neither  sex  nor  age — man,  woman,  | 
nor  child;  and  they  were  so  quick  and  sudden 
in  their  execution,  that  few  perceived  the  weap- 
on or  blow  that  brought  them  to  their  end. 
Some  entered  their  houses  under  color  of  trade; 
others  drew  them  abroad  under  specious  pre- 
tences; whilst  the  rest  fell  suddenly  on  those  1 
that  were  at  their  several  works  and  labors. 
And  thus,  in  one  hour,  and  almost  at  the  same 
instant,  fell  three  hundred  and  forty-seven — 
men,  women,  and  children;  most  of  them  by 
fheir  own  tools  and  weapons,  and  all  by  the 
hands  of  a perfidious,  naked,  and  dastardly 


23  3 LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

people,  who  durst  not  stand  the  presenting  of  a 
staff  in  manner  of  a firelock,  nor  an  uncharged 
piece  in  the  hands  of  a woman.  Neither  were 
they  content  with  their  lives  only,  but  they  fell 
again  upon  their  dead  bodies,  defacing,  dragging, 
and  mangling  them  into  many  pieces,  and  car- 
rying some  parts  away  with  a base  and  brutish 
triumph. 

“This  slaughter  was  a deep  and  grievous 
wound  to  the  yet  weak  and  infant  colony ; but 
it  would  have  been  much  more  general,  and 
I almost  universal,  if  God  had  not  put  it  into  the 
heart  of  a converted  Indian  to  make  a discovery. 
This  convert,  whose  name  was  Chanco,  lived 
with  one  Richard  Pace,  who  treated  him  as  his 
own  son.  The  night  before  the  massacre, 
another  Indian,  his  brother,  lay  with  him ; and 
telling  him  the  king’s  command,  and  that  the 
execution  would  be  performed  the  next  day,  he 
urged  him  to  rise  and  kill  Pace,  as  he  intended 
to  do  by  Perry,  his  friend.  As  soon  as  his 
brother  was  gone,  the  Christian  Indian  rose,  and 
went  and  revealed  the  whole  matter  to  Pace ; 
who  immediately  gave  notice  thereof  to  Cap- 
tain William  Powel,  and  having  secured  his  own 
house,  rowed  off  before  day  to  Jamestown,  and 
informed  the  governor  of  it.  By  this  means, 
their  design  was  prevented  at  Jamestown,  and 
all  such  plantations  as  could  possibly  get  intel- 
ligence in  time.  For  wherever  they  saw  the 
English  upon  their  guard,  or  a single  musket 
presented,  they  ran  off,  and  abandoned  their 
attempt.”* 

* Stith. 


CAITA1N  JOHN  SMITH.  239 

It  would  be  superfluous  to  dwell  upon  the  use- 
less regrets  attendant  upon  this  wholesale  butch- 
ery, both  among  the  remaining  settlers  and 
among  the  people  in  England.  Many  were  the 
projects  set  on  foot  to  remedy  what  was  not 
remedial;  and  although  all  parties  interested, 
and  particularly  the  Virginia  Company,  were 
somewhat  staggered  “to  understand  of  such  a 
supposed  impossible  loss,  as  that  so  many  should 
fall  by  the  hands  of  men  so  contemptible/'  yet 
all  this  did  not  so  discourage  the  adventurers  as 
to  debar  them  from  continuing  to  dispatch  divers 
ships  with  such  supplies  and  assistance  as  were 
deemed  necessary  for  resuscitating  and  invigor- 
ating the  colony. 

In  this  trying  emergency,  application  was  made 
to  Captain  Smith  for  such  suggestions  as  he 
might  choose  to  offer  relative  to  the  future  reg- 
ulation of  the  colony,  and  to  the  subjugation 
and  civilization  of  the  Indians.  He  had  ever 
been  of  the  opinion  that  gentleness  and  kindness 
were  not  the  most  effective  means  of  bringing 
the  Indians  over;  and  in  this  opinion  he  was 
supported  by  Mr.  Stockham  and  Mr.  Whitaker, 
two  clergymen  of  note  among  the  settlers.  It 
seemed  to  be  the  general  impression  that  “Mars 
and  Minerva  should  go  hand  in  hand,  as  well  in 
their  conversion  as  in  all  other  transactions  and 
intercourse."  With  a promptitude  and  devotion 
characteristic  of  the  man,  Smith  tendered  his 
services  to  the  company,  and  proposed  “ that  they 
should  transport  him,  with  an  hundred  soldiers 
and  thirty  sailors,  and  all  proper  provisions  and 


; 240  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

! 

ammunition;  and  should  give  him  a bark  of  an 
hundred  tons,  with  means  and  materials  to  build 
six  or  seven  shallops,  to  transport  his  men  from  j 
place  to  place,  as  occasion  required ; and  then 
he  undertook  to  form  a flying  camp,  and  to 
range  about  and  torment  the  Indians,  till  he 
either  obliged  them  to  quit  the  country,  or 
brought  them  into  such  fear  and  subjection,  that 
every  man  should  follow  his  business  in  peace 
| and  security.  And  as  to  the  support  and  sub- 
sistence of  this  party,  he  thought,  if  his  majesty 
| were  truly  informed  of  the  necessity  and  benefit 
j of  the  thing,  he  would  give  the  customs  of  Vir- 
ginia for  a time.  For,  without  some  such  method, 
it  was  much  to  be  doubted  whether  there  would 
j come,  in  a few  years,  either  customs  or  any  thing 
else  from  thence  to  England.  And  he  doubted  j 
not  but  that  the  planters  would,  according  to  j 
their  several  abilities,  contribute  towards  so  use- 
ful and  necessary  a design.  But  he  insisted  that 
the  governors  should  not  be  permitted,  by  virtue 
of  their  authority,  to  take  his  men  away,  or  any 
thing  else,  to  employ  them,  as  they  thought 
proper.  And  he  farther  promised,  to  make  the 
best  use  of  his  experience,  as  well  within  the 
limits  of  Virginia  as  New  England,  to  bring 
them  both  into  one  map,  with  all  the  countries 
that  lay  between  them.  As  to  the  reward  of 
his  own  pains  and  danger,  he  asked  not  any  thing 
but  what  he  could  raise  from  the  proper  labor 
i of  the  savages  themselves.  This  proposal  was 
well  approved  by  most  that  heard  it;  but  such 
were  their  divisions  and  confusion  at  that  time, 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  241 

that  he  could  obtain  no  other  answer,  but  that 
the  expense  would  be  too  great,  and  their  stock 
was  exhausted;  and  they  thought  the  planters 
should  do  something  of  that  nature  themselves, 
if  they  could  find  sufficient  means  to  effect  it. 
However,  he  was  given  to  understand,  as  he 
tells  us,  that  if  he  would  undertake  the  thing 
upon  his  own  private  account,  he  might  have 
the  company’s  leave ; provided,  they  might  have 
half  the  pillage.  But  he  rejected  this  intimation 
with  scorn;  thinking,  that  all  the  pillage  of  those 
poor  and  naked  barbarians,  except  a little  corn, 
to  be  had  at  some  times  of  the  year,  would  not, 
in  twenty  years,  amount  to  twenty  pounds.”* 

A murderous  retribution,  alike  savage  as  the 
act  which  occasioned  it,  was  visited  on  the  In- 
dians : their  villages  were  razed,  their  crops  de- 
stroyed, and  themselves  shot  down  with  as  little 
compunction  as  so  many  wild  beasts.  Indeed, 
brutality  in  their  persecution  was  for  a long 
time  afterwards  regarded  as  a merit  worthy  of 
high  esteem,  and  the  consequence  was  an  almost 
indiscriminate  slaughter,  in  which  the  innocent 
were  frequently  involved  with  the  guilty. 

About  this  time,  several  discontented  adven- 
turers, at  the  head  of  whom  was  Captain  Argali, 
were  at  great  pains  to  discourage  the  plans  of 
settlement  adopted  by  the  Virginia  Company. 
Written  and  oral  statements  were  circulated, 
which  were  well  calculated  to  exercise  a disas- 
trous effect  upon  the  extension  and  prosperity  of 
the  infant  colony,  and  which  finally  occasioned 
* Stith. 

21 

=■-- M-zr.-. — i t~-  i . ,=-_^=rr- 


242 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


I 


I 

I 


the  appointment  of  commissioners  to  investigate 
the  aspersions  so  illiberally  made  against  the  sit- 
uation of  the  colony  itself,  and  against  many 
who  were  actively  engaged  in  promoting  its 
success.  Of  course,  in  an  emergency  of  this 
kind,  Smith  was  foremost  in  rendering  his  testi- 
mony for  the  right;  and,  in  an  early  stage  of  the 
proceedings,  he  furnished  the  following  synopsis 
of  what  his  experience  had  taught  him  relative 
to  the  colony  and  its  prospects: 

“Honourable  Gentlemen:  for  so  many  faire 
and  nauigable  riuers  so  neere  adioyning,  and  piercing 
thorow  so  faire  a naturall  land,  free  from  any  inun- 
dations, or  large  fenny  vn wholesome  marshes,  I haue 
not  seene,  read,  nor  heard  of:  and  for  the  building 
of  cities,  townes  and  wharfage,  if  they  will  vse  the 
meanes,  where  there  is  no  more  ebb  nor  floud,  nature 
in  few  places  affoords  any  so  conuenient,  for  salt 
marshes  or  quagmires.  In  this  tract  of  lames  towne 
riuer  I know  very  few ; some  small  marshes  and 
swamps  there  are,  but  more  profitable  than  hurtfull ; 
and  I think  there  is  more  low  marsh  ground  betwixt 
ErifFe  and  Chelsey,  than  Kecoughtan  and  the  falls, 
which  is  about  one  hundred  and  eighty  miles  by  the 
course  of  the  riuer. 

“Being  inioyned  by  our  commission  not  to  vnplant 
nor  wrong  the  saluages,  because  the  channel  was  so 
neere  the  shore,  where  now  is  lames  towne,  then  a 
thicke  groue  of  trees ; wee  cut  them  downe,  where 
the  saluages  pretending  as  much  kindnesse  as  could 
bee,  they  hurt  and  slew  one  and  twenty  of  vs  in  two 
houres:  at  this  time  our  diet  was  for  most  part  water 
and  bran,  and  three  ounces  of  little  better  stuffe  in 
bread  for  fiue  men  a meale,  and  thus  we  liued  neere 


! 

n 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  243 

three  moneths:  our  lodgings  vnder  boughes  of  trees, 
the  saluages  being  our  enemies,  whom  we  neither 
knew  no  vnderstood ; occasions  I thinke  sufficient  to 
make  men  sicke  and  die. 

“Necessity  thus  did  inforce  me  with  eight  or  nine, 
to  try  conclusions  amongst  the  saluages,  that  we  got 
provision  which  recouered  the  rest  being  most  sicke. 
Six  weekes  I was  led  captiue  by  those  barbarians, 
though  some  of  my  men  were  slaine,  and  the  rest 
fled,  yet  it  pleased  God  to  make  their  great  king’s 
daughter  the  meanes  to  returne  me  safe  to  lames 
towne,  and  releeue  our  wants,  and  then  our  common- 
wealth was  in  all  eight  and  thirty,  the  remainder  of 
one  hundred  and  flue. 

“ Being  supplied  with  one  hundred  and  twenty, 
with  twelue  men  in  a boat  of  three  tuns,  I spent  four- 
teene  weeks  in  those  large  waters;  the  contents  of 
the  way  of  my  boat  protracted  by  the  skale  of  pro- 
portion, was  about  three  thousand  miles,  besides  the 
river  we  dwell  vpon,  where  no  Christian  knowne  euer 
was,  and  our  diet  for  the  most  part  what  we  could 
finde,  yet  but  one  died. 

“The  saluages  being  acquainted  that  by  command 
from  England  we  durst  not  hurt  them,  were  much 
imboldned  ; that  famine  and  their  insolencies  did  force 
me  to  break  our  commission  and  instructions,  cause 
Powhatan  fly  his  countrey,  and  take  the  king  of  Pa- 
mavuke  prisoner;  and  also  to  keepe  the  king  of 
Paspahegh  in  shackles,  and  put  his  men  to  double 
taskes  in  chaines,  till  nine  and  thirty  of  their  kings 
paid  vs  contribution,  and  the  offending  saluages  sent  to 
lames  towne  to  punish  at  our  owne  discretions : in 
the  two  last  yeares  I staid  there,  I had  not  a man 
slaine. 

“All  those  conclusions  being  not  able  to  preuent 


244  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

the  bad  etients  of  pride  and  idlenesse,  hauing  re- 
ceiued  another  supply  of  seuentie,  we  were  about  two 
hundred  in  all,  but  not  twentie  work-men  : in  follow- 
ing the  strict  directions  from  England  to  doe  that 
was  impossible  at  that  time ; so  it  hapned,  that  neither 
wee  nor  they  had  any  thing  to  eat,  but  what  the 
countrey  afforded  naturally  ; yet  of  eightie  who  liued 
vpon  oysters  in  Iune  and  Iuly,  with  a pint  of  corn  a 
week  for  a man  lying  under  trees,  and  120  for  the  most 
part  liuing  vpon  sturgion,  which  was  dried  til  we 
pounded  it  to  powder  for  meale,  yet  in  ten  weeks  but 
seuen  died. 

“It  is  true,  we  had  of  tooles,  armes,  and  munition 
sufficient,  some  aquavitae,  vinegar,  meale,  pease,  and 
oatmeale,  but  in  two  yeares  and  a halfe  not  sufficient 
for  six  moneths,  though  by  the  bils  of  loading  the 
proportions  sent  vs,  would  well  haue  contented  vs, 
notwithstanding  we  sent  home  ample  proofes  of  pitch, 
tar,  sope  ashes,  wainskot,  clapboord,  silke  grasse, 
iron  ore,  some  sturgion  and  glasse,  saxefras,  cedar, 
cypris,  and  blacke  walnut,  crowned  Powhatan,  sought 
the  Monacans  countrey,  according  to  the  instructions 
sent  vs,  but  they  caused  vs  neglect  more  necessary 
workes:  they  had  better  haue  giuen  for  pitch  and 
sope  ashes  one  hundred  pound  a tun  in  Denmarke : 
wee  also  maintained  fiue  or  six  seuerall  plantations. 

“lames  towne  being  burnt,  wee  rebuilt  it  and  three 
forts  more,  besides  the  church  and  store-house,  we 
had  about  fortie  or  fiftie  seuerall  houses  to  keepe  vs 
warme  and  dry,  inuironed  with  a palizado  of  four- 
teene  or  fifteene  foot,  and  each  as  much  as  three  or 
foure  men  could  carrie.  We  digged  a faire  well  of 
fresh  water  in  the  fort,  where  wee  had  three  bulwarks, 
foure  and  twenty  peece  of  ordnance,  of  culverin, 
demiculverin,  sacar  and  falcon,  and  most  well 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  245 

mounted  vpon  conuenient  plat-formes,  planted  one  I 
hundred  acres  of  corne.  We  had  but  six  ships  to 
transport  and  supply  vs,  and  but  two  hundred  seuenty 
seuen  men,  boies,  and  women,  by  whose  labours 
Virginia  being  brought  to  this  kinde  of  perfection, 
the  most  difficulties  past,  and  the  foundation  thus  laid 
by  this  small  meanes;  yet  because  we  had  done  no 
more,  they  called  in  our  commission,  tooke  a new 
in  their  owne  names,  and  appointed  vs  neere  as  many 
offices  and  officers  as  I had  souldiers,  that  neither 
knew  vs  nor  wee  them,  without  our  consent  or 
knowledge;  since  there  haue  gone  more  than  one 
hundred  ships  of  other  proportions,  and  eight  or  ten 
thousand  people.  Now  if  you  please  to  compare 
what  hath  beene  spent,  sent,  discouered  and  done  this 
fifteene  yeares,  by  that  we  did  in  the  three  first 
yeares,  and  every  gouernour  that  hath  beene  there 
since,  giue  you  but  such  an  account  as  this,  you  may 
easily  finde  what  hath  beene  the  cause  of  those  dis- 
asters in  Virginia. 

“Then  came  in  Captaine  Argali,  and  Master  Se- 
dan, in  a ship  of  Master  Cornelius,  to  fish  for  stur- 
gion,  who  had  such  good  prouision,  we  contracted 
with  them  for  it,  whereby  we  were  better  furnished 
than  euer. 

“Not  long  after  came  in  seuen  ships,  with  about 
three  hundred  people ; but  rather  to  supplant  vs  than 
supply  vs,  their  admirall  with  their  authoritie  being 
cast  away  in  the  Bermudas,  very  angry  they  were 
we  had  made  no  bette.  prouision  for  them.  Seuen 
or  eight  weekes  we  withstood  the  invndations  of  these 
disorderly  humors,  till  I was  neere  blowne  to  death 
with  gun-powder,  which  occasioned  me  to  returne 
j for  England. 

“In  the  yeare  1609  about  Michaelmas,  I left  the 
21* 


246  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

countrey,  as  is  formerly  related,  with  three  ships, 
seuen  boats,  commodities  to  trade,  haruest  newly 
gathered,  eight  weeks  prouision  of  corne  and  meale, 
about  fiue  hundred  persons,  three  hundred  muskets, 
shot,  powder,  and  match,  with  armes  for  more  men 
than  we  had.  The  saluages,  their  language  and 
habitation,  well  knowne  to  two  hundred  expert  soul- 
diers;  nets  for  fishing,  tooles  of  all  sorts,  apparell  to 
supply  their  wants:  six  mares  and  a horse,  fiue  or 
six  hundred  swine,  many  more  powltry,  what  was 
brought  or  bred,  but  victuall  there  remained. 

“ Hauing  spent  some  fiue  yeares,  and  more  than 
fiue  hundred  pounds  in  procuring  the  letters  patents 
and  setting  forward,  and  neere  as  much  more  about 
New  England,  &c.— 1 Thus  these  nineteene  yeares  I 
haue  here  and  there  not  spared  any  thing  according 
to  my  abilitie,  nor  the  best  aduice  I could,  to  per- 
swade  how  those  strange  miracles  of  misery  might 
haue  been  preuented,  which  lamentable  experience 
plainly  taught  me  of  necessity  must  insue,  but  few 
would  beleeue  me  till  now  too  deerely  they  haue  paid 
for  it.  Wherefore  hitherto  I haue  rather  left  all  than 
vndertake  impossibilities,  or  any  more  such  costly 
taskes  at  such  chargeable  rates:  for  in  neither  of 
those  two  countries  haue  I one  foot  of  land,  nor  the 
very  Jiouse  I builded,  nor  the  ground  I digged  with 
my  owne  hands,  nor  euer  any  content  or  satisfaction 
at  all,  and  though  I see  ordinarily  those  two  countries 
shared  before  me  by  them  that  neither  haue  them 
nor  knowes  them,  but  by  my  descriptions : yet  that 
doth  not  so  much  trouble  me,  as  to  heare  and  see 
those  contentions  and  diuisions  which  will  hazard  if 
not  mine  the  prosperitie  of  Virginia,  if  present  rem-  j 
edy  bee  not  found,  as  they  haue  hindred  many  hun- 
dreds, who  would  haue  beene  there  ere  now,  and 
makes  them  yet  that  are  willing  to  stand  in  a demurre. 


i:.\  i'T  AI.\  JOHN  SMITH.  247 

“For  the  books  and  maps  I haue  made,  I will 
thanke  him  that  will  shew  me  so  much  for  so  little 
recornpence,  and-  beare  with  their  errors  till  I haue 
done  better.  For  the  materials  in  them  I cannot  de- 
ny, but  am  ready  to  affirme  them  both  there  and  here, 
vpon  such  grounds  as  I haue  propounded,  which  is 
to  haue  but  fifteene  hundred  men  to  subdue  againe  j 
the  saluages,  fortifie  the  countrey,  discouer  that  yet 
vnknowne,  and  both  defend  and  feed  their  colony, 
which  I most  humbly  refer  to  his  maiesties’  most  in- 
diciall  iudgement,  and  the  most  honourable  lords  of 
his  priuy  councell,  you  his  trusty  and  well-beloued 
commissioners,  and  the  honourable  company  of 
planters  and  well-willers  to  Virginia,  New  England 
and  Sommer-Ilands.” 

Not  content  with  the  preceding  general  state- 
ment, the  commissioners  propounded  seven  spe- 
cific questions,  which,  with  the  answers,  are 
recorded  by  Smith  as  follows : 

Question  1.  What  conceiue  you  is  the  cause  the 
plantation  hath  prospered  no  better , since  you  left  it 
in  so  good  a forwar dues se  ? 

Answer . Idlenesse  and  carelessnesse  brought  all  I 
did  in  three  yeeres  in  six  moneths  to  nothing,  and  of 
fiue  hundred  I left,  scarce  threescore  remained,  and 
had  Sir  Thomas  Gates  not  got  from  the  Bermudas,  I 
thinke  they  had  beene  all  dead  before  they  could  be 
supplied. 

Quest.  2.  What  conceiue  you  should  be  the  cause , 
though  the  country  be  good , there  comes  nothing  but 
tobacco  ? 

Ansiv.  The  oft  altering  of  gouernours  it  seemes 
causes  euery  man  make  vse  of  his  time,  and  because 


248  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

corne  was  stinted  at  two  shillings  six  pence  the 
bushell;  and  tobacco  at  three  shillings  the  pound, 
and  they  value  a man’s  labour  a yeere  worth  fifty  or 
threescore  pound,  but  in  corne  not  worth  ten  pound, 
presuming  tobacco  will  furnish  them  with  all  things ; 
now  make  a man’s  labour  in  corne  worth  threescore 
pound,  and  in  tobacco  but  ten  pound  a man,  then 
shall  they  haue  come  sufficient  to  entertaine  all 
commers,  and  keepe  their  people  in  health  to  doe  any 
thing,  but  till  then,  there  will  be  little  or  nothing  to 
any  purpose. 

Quest.  3.  What  conceiue  you  to  haue  beene  the 
cause  of  the  massacre , and  had  the  saluages  had  the 
vse  of  any  peeces  in  your  time , or  when , or  by  whom 
they  were  taught  ? 

Answ . The  cause  of  the  massacre  was  the  want 
of  marshall  discipline,  and  because  they  would  haue 
all  the  English  had  by  destroying  those  they  found 
so  carelessly  secure,  that  they  were  not  prouided  to 
defend  themselves  against  any  enemy,  being  so  dis- 
persed as  they  were.  In  my  time,  though  Captaine 
Nuport  furnished  them  with  swords  by  truck,  and 
many  fugitiues  did  the.  like,  and  some  peeces  they 
got  accidentally,  yet  I got  the  most  of  them  againe, 
and  it  was  death  to  him  that  should  shew  a saluage 
the  vse  of  a peece. — Since  I vnderstand  they  became 
so  good  shot,  they  were  imployed  for  fowlers  and 
huntsmen  by  the  English. 

Quest.  4.  What  charge  think  you  would  haue  set - 
led  the  gouernment  both  for  defence  and  planting  when 
you  left  it  ? 

Answ . Twenty  thousand  pound  would  haue  hired 
good  labourers  and  mechanicall  men,  and  haue  fur- 
nished them  with  cattell  and  all  necessaries,  and  100. 
of  them  would  haue  done  more  then  a thousand  of 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  249 

those  that  went,  though  the  Lord  Laware,  Sir  Ferdi- 
nando  Waynman,  Sir  Thomas  Gates  and  Sir  Thomas 
Dale  were  perswaded  to  the  contrary,  but  when  they 
had  tried,  they  confessed  their  error. 

Quest.  5.  What  conceiue  you  would  he  the  remedy 
and  the  charge  ? 

Answ.  The  remedy  is  to  send  souldiers  and  all 
sorts  of  labourers  and  necessaries  for  them,  that  they 
may  be  there  by  next  Michaelmas,  the  which  to  doe 
well  will  stand  you  in  flue  thousand  pound,  but  if 
his  maiesty  would  please  to  lend  two  of  his  ships  to 
transport  them,  lesse  would  serue,  besides  the  benefit 
of  his  grace  to  the  action  would  encourage  all  men. 

Quest.  6.  What  thinke  you  are  the  defects  of  the 
gouernment  both  here  and  there  ? 

Answ.  The  multiplicity  of  opinions  here,  and  of- 
ficers there,  makes  such  delaies  by  questions  and 
formalitie,  that  as  much  time  is  spent  in  complement 
as  in  action;  besides,  some  are  so  desirous  to  imploy 
their  ships,  hauing  six  pounds  for  euery  passenger, 
and  three  pounds  for  euery  tun  of  goods,  at  which 
rate  a thousand  ships  may  now  better  be  procured 
than  one  at  the  first,  when  the  common  stocke  de- 
frayed all  fraughts,  wages,  prouisions  and  magazines, 
whereby  the  ships  are  so  pestred,  as  occasions  much 
sicknesse,  diseases  and  mortality,  for  though  all  the 
passengers  die  they  are  sure  of  their  fraught;  and 
then  all  must  be  satisfied  with  orations,  disputations, 
excuses  and  hopes.  As  for  the  letters  of  aduice  from 
hence,  and  their  answers  thence,  they  are  so  well 
written,  men  would  beleeue  there  were  no  great 
doubt  of  the  performance,  and  that  all  things  were 
well,  to  which  error  here  they  haue  beene  euer  much 
subiect ; and  there  not  to  beleeue,  or  not  to  releeue 
the  true  and  poore  estate  of  that  colony,  whose  fruits 


250  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

Were  commonly  spent  before  they  were  ripe,  and  this 
losse  is  nothing  to  them  here,  whose  great  estates  are 
not  sensible  of  the  losse  of  their  adaentures,  and  so 
they  thinke,  or  will  not  take  notice ; but  it  is  so  with 
all  men  : but  howsoeuer  they  thinke  or  dispose  of  all 
things  at  their  pleasure,  I am  sure  not  my  selfe  one- 
ly, but  a thousand  others  haue  not  onely  spent  the 
most  of  their  estates,  but  the  most  part  haue  lost  their 
liues  and  all,  onely  but  to  make  way  for  the  trial  of 
more  new  conclusions,  and  he  that  now  will  adven- 
ture but  twelve  pounds  ten  shillings,  shall  haue  better 
respect  and  as  much  favour  than  he  that  sixteene 
yeare  agoe  aduentured  as  much,  except  he  have 
money  as  the  other  hath,  but  though  he  haue  aduen- 
tured fiue  hundred  pound,  and  spent  there  neuer  so 
much  time,  if  hee  haue  no  more  and  not  able  to  be- 
gin a family  of  himselfe,  all  is  lost  by  order  of  courU- 
But  in  the  beginning  it  was  not  so,  all  went  then 
out  of  one  purse,  till  those  new  deuices  haue  con- 
sumed both  money  and  purse;  for  at  first  there  were 
but  six  patentees,  now  more  than  a thousand,  then 
but  thirteen  Counsailors,  now  not  lesse  then  a hun- 
dred; I speake  not  of  all,  for  there  are  some  both 
honourable  and  honest,  but  of  those  officers  which, 
did  they  manage  their  owne  estates  no  better  than 
the  affaires  of  Virginia,  they  would  quickly  fall  to  j 
decay  so  well  as  it;  but  this  is  most  euident,  few  of- 
ficers in  England  it  hath  caused  toturne  banquerupts, 
nor  for  all  their  complaints  would  leaue  their  places, 
neither  yet  any  of  their  officers  there,  nor  few  of  the 
rest  but  they  would  be  at  home,  but  fewer  aduen- 
turers  here  will  adventure  any  more  till  they  see 
the  businesse  better  established,  although  there  be 
some  so  wilfully  improuident  they  care  for  nothing 
but  to  get  thither,  and  then  if  their  friends  be  dead, 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


251 


or  want  therriselues,  they  die  or  liue  but  poorely  for 
want  of  necessaries,  and  to  thinke  the  old  planters 
can  releeue  them  were  two  much  simplicity ; for 
who  here  in  England  is  so  charitable  to  feed  two  or 
three  strangers,  haue  they  neuer  so  much;  much 
lesse  in  Virginia,  where  they  want  for  themselues. 
Now  the  generall  complaint  saith,  that  pride,  couet- 
ousnesse,  extortion  and  oppression  in  a few  that  in- 
grosses  all,  then  sell  all  againe  to  the  comminalty  at 
what  rate  they  please,  yea  euen  men,  women  and 
children  for  who  will  giue  most,  occasions  no  small 
mischiefe  amongst  the  planters. 

As  for  the  company,  or  those  that  doe  transport 
them,  prouided  of  necessaries,  God  forbid  but  they 
should  receiue  their  charges  againe  with  aduantage, 
or  that  masters  there  should  not  haue  the  same  priu- 
ilege  ouer  their  seruants  as  here,  but  to  sell  him  or 
her  for  forty,  fifty,  or  threescore  pounds,  whom  the 
company  hath  sent  ouer  for  eight  or  ten  pounds  at 
the  most,  without  regard  how  they  shall  be  maintained 
with  apparell,  meat,  drinke  and  lodging,  is  odious, 
and  their  fruits  sutable,  therefore  such  merchants  it 
were  better  they  were  made  such  merchandize  them- 
selues, than  suffered  any  longer  to  vse  that  trade,  and 
those  are  defects  sufficient  to  bring  a well  setled 
common-wealth  to  misery,  much  more  Virginia. 

Quest.  7.  How  thinke  you  it  may  he  rectified  ? 

Answ.  If  his  maiestie  would  please  to  intitle  it  to 
his  crowne,  and  yearely  that  both  the  gouernours 
here  and  there  may  giue  their  accounts  to  you,  or 
, some  that  are  not  ingaged  in  the  businesse,  that  the 
common  stocke  bee  not  spent  in  maintaining  one 
hundred  men  for  the  gouernour,  one  hundred  for  two 
deputies,  fifty  for  the  treasurer,  flue  and  twenty  for 
the  secretary,  and  more  for  the  marshall  and  other 


252 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


"1 


officers  who  were  neuer  there  nor  aduentured  any 
thing,  but  onely  preferred  by  fauour  to  be  lords  ouer 
them  that  broke  the  ice  and  beat  the  path,  and  must 
teach  them  what  to  doe,  if  any  thing  happen  well,  it 
is  their  glory ; if  ill,  the  fault  of  the  old  directors, 
that  in  all  dangers  must  endure  the  worst,  yet  not 
five  hundred  of  them  haue  so  much  as  one  of  the 
others ; also  that  there  bee  some  present  course  taken 
to  maintaine  a garrison  to  suppresse  the  saluages,  till 
they  be  able  to  subsist,  and  that  his  maiesty  would 
please  to  remit  his  custome,  or  it  is  to  be  feared  they 
will  lose  custome  and  all,  for  this  cannot  be  done  by 
promises,  hopes,  counsels  and  countenances,  but  with 
sufficient  workmen  and  meanes  to  maintaine  them, 
not  such  delinquents  as  here  cannot  be  ruled  by  all 
the  lawes  in  England,  yet  when  the  foundation  is  laid, 
as  I haue  said,  and  a common- wealth  established,  then 
such  there  may  better  be  constrained  to  labour  than 
here  : but  to  rectifie  a common- wealth  with  debaushed 
people  is  impossible,  and  no  wise  man  would  throw 
himselfe  into  such  a society,  that  intends  honestly,  and 
knowes  what  he  vndertakes,  for  there  is  no  countrey 
to  pillage  as  the  Romans  found : all  you  expect  from 
thence  must  be  by  labour. 

For  the  gouernment  I thinke  there  is  as  much 
adoe  about  it  as  the  kingdomes  of  Scotland  and  Ire- 
land, men  here  conceiting  Virginia  as  they  are, 
erecting  as  many  stately  offices  as  officers  with  theii 
attendants,  as  there  are  labourers  in  the  countrev, 
where  a constable  were  as  good  as  twenty  of  their 
captaines,  and  three  hundred  good  souldiers  and  la. 
borers  better  then  all  the  rest  that  goe  onely  to  get 
the  fruits  of  other  mens  labours  by  the  title  of  an 
office.  Thus  they  spend  Michaelmas  rent  in  mid- 
summer moone,  and  would  gather  their  harvest  be- 
fore they  haue  planted  their  corne. 


i 

! 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


253 


As  for  the  maintenance  of  the  officers,  the  first  that 
went  neuer  demanded  any,  but  aduentured  good 
summes,  and  it  seemes  strange  to  me,  the  fruits  of 
all  their  labours.  Besides  the  expence  of  an  hun- 
dred and  fifty  thousand  pounds,  and  such  multitudes 
of  people,  those  collaterall  officers  could  not  main- 
taine  themselves  so  well  as  the  old  did ; and  hauing 
now  such  liberty  to  doe  as  to  the  saluages  what  they 
will ; the  others  had  not.  I more  than  wonder  they 
haue  not  fiue  hundred  saluages  to  worke  for  them 
i towards  their  generall  maintenance,  and  as  many 
more  to  returne  some  content  and  satisfaction  to  the 
aduenturers,  that  for  all  their  care,  charge  and  dili- 
gence, can  heare  nor  see  nothing  but  miserable 
complaints;  therefore  vnder  your  correction  to  rec- 
tifie  all,  is  with  all  expedition  to  passe  the  authority 
to  them  who  will  releeue  them,  lest  all  bee  consumed 
ere  the  differences  be  determined.  And  except  his 
maiestie  vndertake  it,  or  by  act  of  parliament  some 
small  tax  may  be  granted  throughout  his  dominions, 
as  a penny  vpon  euery  poll,  called  a head-penny; 
two  pence  vpon  euery  chimney,  or  some  such  collec- 
tion might  be  raised,  and  that  would  be  sufficient  to 
giue  a good  stocke  and  many  seruants  to  sufficient 
men  of  any  facultie,  and  transport  them  freely  for 
paying  onely  homage  to  the  crowne  of  England,  and 
such  duties  to  the  publike  good  as  their  estates  in- 
creased, reason  should  require.  Were  this  put  in 
practice,  how  many  people  of  what  quality  you  please, 
for  all  those  disasters  would  yet  gladly  goe  to  spend 
their  Hues  there,  and  by  this  meanes  more  good  might 
be  done  in  one  yeare,  than  all  those  pety  particular 
vndertakings  will  effect  in  twenty. 

For  the  patent,  the  king  may,  if  he  please,  rather 
take  it  from  them  that  haue  it,  than  from  vs  who  had 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

| it  first,  pretending  to  his  maiesty  what  great  matters 
they  would  doe,  and  how  little  we  did,  and  for  any  ,j 
thing  I can  conceiue,  had  we  remained  still  as  at 
first,  it  is  not  likely  we  could  haue  done  much  worse  ; 
but  those  oft  altering  of  gouernments  are  not  without 
much  charge,  hazard  and  losse.  If  I be  too  plaine, 
j I humbly  craue  your  pardon  ; but  you  requested  me, 
therefore  I doe  but  my  duty.  For  the  nobility,  who 
knowes  not  how  freely  both  in  their  purses  and  as- 
sistances many  of  them  haue  beene  to  aduance  it, 
committing  the  managing  of  the  businesse  to  inferior 
persons,  amongst  whom  questionlesse  also  many  haue 
done  their  utmost  best,  sincerely  and  truly  according 
to  their  conceit,  opinion  and  vnderstanding ; yet 
grosse  errors  haue  beene  committed,  but  no  man  Hues 
without  his  fault;  for  my  owne  part,  I haue  so  much 
adoe  to  amend  my  owne,  I haue  no  leisure  to  look 
into  any  man’s  particular,  but  those  in  generall  I 
conceiue  to  be  true.  And  so  I humbly  rest. 

Yours  to  command,  I.  S. 

The  facts  elicited  in  the  course  of  these  in- 
vestigations were  made  a pretext  for  abrogating 
the  charter  of  the  Virginia  Company,  and  the 
management  of  its  affairs  was  undertaken  by 
the  king  himself,  and  by  creatures  who  were 
ever  ready  and  willing  to  do  his  bidding.  But 
the  claims  of  Smith  to  advancement  were  wholly 
neglected,  and  he  was  left  to  the  poor  consola- 
tion of  seeing  hundreds  avail  themselves  of  the 
fruits  of  his  enterprise,  while  he  was  left  to  bear 
up  as  best  he  could  against  the  manifold  disap- 
pointments resulting  from  the  non-fulfilment  of 
promises  made  to  promote  his  favorite  scheme 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


255 


of  colonizing  New  England.  He  did  not,  how-  ' 
ever,  brood  over  his  discouragements  in  idleness: 
his  time  must  have  been  much  occupied  in 
gathering  materiel  for  several  works,  which  were 
published  between  the  years  1623  and  1630,  and 
which  were  highly  serviceable  in  developing  the 
resources  of  the  new  world.  In  1627,  “the 
General  History  of  Virginia,  New  England,  and 
the  Somer  Isles,”  made  its  appearance — the  nar- 
rative part  of  which  was  made  up  of  the  jour- 
nals and  letters  of  those  who  were  concerned 
with  him,  intermixed  with  his  own  observations. 
This  was  followed  in  1629  by  “the  True  Travels, 
Adventures,  and  Observations  of  Captain  John 
Smith,”  which  is  preserved  entire  in  the  second 
volume  of  Churchill  s Collections,  and  to  which 
we  are  mainly  indebted  for  the  facts  embraced 
in  this  work.  “In  the  conclusion,  he  made  some 
addition  to  the  history  of  Virginia,  Bermuda, 
New  England,  and  the"  West  Indies,  respecting 
things  which  had  come  to  his  knowledge  after 
the  publication  of  his  general  history.  He  stated 
the  inhabitants  of  Virginia  in  1628  at  five  thou- 
sand, and  their  cattle'about  the  same  number. 
Their  produce  was  chiefly  tobacco,  but  those 
few  who  attended  to  their  gardens  had  all  sorts 
of  fruit,  and  vegetables  in  great  abundance  and 
perfection.”* 

At  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was  engaged  on  j 
a work,  which  he  entitled  “the  History  of  the 
Sea,”  no  portion  of  which  was  probably  ever 
published,  as  it  is  not  to  be  found  in  any  collec- 
* Belknap. 


256 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


tion  in  Europe  or  America.  The  precise  time 
and  manner  of  his  death  is  not  now  satisfactorily 
known,  but  “by  a note  in  Josslyn’s  Voyage  it 
appears  that  he  died  in  1631,  at  London,  in  the 
fifty-second  year  of  his  age.”  The  various 
qualities  for  which  he  was  distinguished,  are  ad- 
mirably set  forth  by  Mr.  Hillard,  from  whose 
work  the  following  extracts  are  taken : 

“A  very  superficial  acquaintance  with  the  events 
of  Captain  Smith’s  life  will  be  sufficient  to  convince 
any  one  that  he  was  a man  cast  in  an  uncommon 
mould,  and  formed  alike  for  the  planning  and  con- 
ducting of  great  enterprises.  He  had  that  happy 
combination  of  qualities,  which  gave  symmetry  to 
his  character,  and  enabled  him  to  assume  the  most 
important  duties  and  responsibilities.  His  constitu- 
tional courage  was  tempered  with  coolness  and  self- 
command.  The  warmth  and  enthusiasm  of  his 
temperament  never  perverted  the  soundness  of  his 
judgment.  His  zeal  was  not  a transient  flame, 
quenched  by  the  first  experience  of  difficulty  and 
danger,  but  a deep-seated,  indestructible  principle, 
which  gained  strength  from  opposition,  and  vigor 
from  defeat. 

“ The  perseverance  with  which  he  prosecuted  his 
enterprises  equalled  the  ardor  with  which  he  under- 
took them.  His  energy  was  so  great  and  overflow- 
ing, Jhat  he  could  not  be  confined  to  any  one  sphere 
of  duty.  We  see  him  at  the  same  time  performing 
the  offices  of  a provident  governor,  a valiant  soldier, 
and  an  industrious  laborer,  capable  alike  of  com- 
manding and  executing.  He  dreaded  nothing  so 
much  as  repose,  inactivity,  and  ease.  He  seemed  to 
court  the  dangers,  toils,  and  sufferings,  which  other 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  257 

men  shrink  from,  or  encounter  only  from  a sense  of 
duty. 

“ If  we  were  called  upon  to  say  what  was  his  ruling 
and  characteristic  trait,  we  should  reply,  enthusiasm , 
using  that  word  in  its  highest  and  best  sense,  as  the 
quality  which  leads  a man  to  devote  himself  to  some 
great  and  good  object  with  courage,  constancy,  and 
self-abandonment,  and  to  exert  in  its  advancement 
and  behalf  all  the  energies  of  his  nature,  undaunted 
by  natural  obstacles,  unruffled  by  opposition,  and 
uninfluenced  by  the  insinuations  of  the  malicious,  the 
open  violence  of  enemies,  and  the  lukewarmness  of 
selfish  friends.  For  the  first  thirty  years  of  his  life, 
we  see  him  without  any  predominant  object  of  inter- 
est or  pursuit,  obeying  the  impulses  of  a fiery  valor 
and  a restless  spirit  of  enterprise,  ‘seeking  the  bub- 
ble reputation’  in  desperate  skirmishes  in  an  obscure 
corner  of  Europe,  eagerly  embracing  every  oppor- 
tunity of  exposing  himself  to  danger  and  of  winning 
glory,  prodigal  of  life  and  covetous  of  honor. 

fc‘But,  fortunately  for  himself  and  for  the  world,  in 
his  early  manhood  he  was  induced  to  devote  himself 
to  the  settlement  of  America,  an  object  attractive 
enough  to  keep  his  imagination  perpetually  kindled, 
and  vast  enough  to  task  all  his  powers,  the  prosecu- 
tion of  which  unfolded  in  him  high  qualities  of  mind 
and  character,  that  the  iron  routine  of  the  camp  could 
never  have  called  forth,  and  which  secured  him  a 
peaceful  glory,  far  more  durable  and  valuable  than 
the  laurels  of  a hundred  victories.  Henceforward 
this  great  interest  absorbed  and  monopolized  him. 
It  supplied  the  place  of  friends,  kindred,  and  domes- 
tic ties.  He  embraced  it  and  labored  for  it  with  a 
disinterestedness  and  a sense  of  duty,  worthy  both 
of  himself  and  of  the  cause.  He  never  made  it  the 


258 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


means  of  securing  pecuniary  gain  or  worldly  ad- 
vancement, being  content  to  point  out  to  others  the 
way  to  wealth,  while  he  remained  poor  himself.  He 
never  coveted  official  dignity  ; and,  when  he  obtained 
it,  he  made  it  no  excuse  for  indolence  or  self-indul- 
gence, and  did  not  regard  it  as  of  so  delicate  a text- 
ure as  to  render  a dignified  and  lofty  seclusion 
necessary  to  preserve  it  unimpaired. 

“ Captain  Smith  must  have  been  something  more 
than  mortal,  had  he  possessed  so  many  brilliant  and 
substantial  good  qualities  without  any  tincture  of  al- 
loy.-* The  frankness  of  his  character  reveals  to  us 
his  faults  no  less  than  his  virtues.  He  was  evidently 
a man  of  an  impatient  and  irritable  temperament, 
expecting  to  find,  in  every  department  of  life,  the 
prompt  and  unhesitating  character  of  military  obedi- 
ence. He  had  keen  sensibility  and  lively  feelings, 
and  was  apt  to  regard  as  studied  neglect  or  inten- 
tional hostility,  what  was  in  fact  only  lukewarm  in- 
difference. His  conviction  of  the  importance  of 
discipline  and  subordination  made  him  sometimes 
imperious  and  tyrannical.  The  energy  and  decision  j 
of  his  character  led  him  sometimes  to  adopt  question- 
able means  to  secure  a desired  result.  His  high 
spirit  and  independence  made  him  perhaps  unneces- 
sarily rough  and  haughty  in  his  communications  to 
his  superiors  in  station  and  authority.  ^ 

“Nothing  is  more  difficult  than,  in  our  intercourse 
with  those  above  us  in  rank,  influence,  or  considera-  i 
tion,  to  hit  that  exact  medium  of  deportment,  which 
is  demanded  alike  by  self-respect  and  by  respect  to 
others,  and  which  is  equally  removed  from  slavish  | 
fawning  and  from  the  unbending  stiffness  generated 
by  undue  notions  of  self-importance.  We  have 
Captain  Smith’s  own  authority  that  he  had  a great 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


259 

many  enemies.  These  were  undoubtedly  made  by 
| his  haughty  bearing,  his  uncompromising  freedom  of 
peech,  the  warmth  of  his  temper,  and  the  impatience 
of  his  blood.  His  resentments  were  lively,  his  an- 
tipathies strong,  and  prudence  had  never  dictated  to 
him  to  refrain  from  the  expression  of  them. 

“There  is  one  circumstance  which  may  serve  to 
palliate  some  of  these  weaknesses  in  Captain  Smith. 
His  birth  was  nothing  more  than  respectable  in  an 
age  when  the  greatest  importance  was  attached  to 
nobility.  It  is  easy  to  perceive  that  this  peculiarity 
in  his  fortunes  may  have  produced  in  him  a soreness 
of  feeling  and  jealousy  of  temper;  may  have  made 
him  suspicious  and  fearful,  lest  he  should  not  receive 
from  others  the  respect  and  consideration  which  he 
knew  were  due  to  his  personal  merit.  This  ine- 
quality between  one’s  lot  and  one’s  merits  and  wishes 
is  a severe  trial  of  character,  and,  in  men  of  high 
spirit,  is  apt  to  beget  a morbid  sensitiveness  and  pride, 
a surly  independence  of  manner,  and  a painful  un- 
easiness lest  their  dignity  should  be  ruffled  by  too 
familiar  contact.  To  this  source  is  undoubtedly'to 
be  ascribed  much  of  that  tartness  of  expression  which 
we  find  frequently  in  his  writings,  and  of  that  haugh- 
tiness which  we  have  every  reason  to  suppose  was 
characteristic  of  his  deportment. 

“With  the  exception  of  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  (and 
perhaps  "Richard  Hakluyt)  no  one  did  so  much  to- 
wards colonizing  and  settling  the  coast  of  North 

o o 

America.  The  state  of  Virginia  is  under  peculiar 
obligations  to  him  as  its  virtual  founder;  since,  with- 
out his  remarkable  personal  qualities  and  indefatiga- 
ble exertions,  the  colony  at  Jamestown  could  never  j 
have  taken  root.  In  reading  the  history  of  his  ad- 
ministration, we  are  made  to  feel,  in  regard  to  him,  j 


260  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 

as  we  do  in  regard  to  Washington,  when  we  contem- 
plate the  events  of  the  American  Revolution  : that  he 
was  a being  specially  appointed  by  Divine  Providence 
to  accomplish  the  work  intrusted  to  him.  He  was 
exactly  fitted  for  the  place  which  he  filled,  and  not 
one  of  his  many  remarkable  gifts  could  have  been 
spared  without  serious  detriment. 

“ His  claims  upon  the  gratitude  of  the  people  of 
New  England  are  hardly  inferior.  He  was  the  first 
to  perceive  the  advantages  held  out  by  it  as  a place 
of  settlement,  in  spite  of  its  bitter  skies  and  iron-bound 
coast,  and  to  correct  the  erroneous,  unfavorable 
impressions  prevalent  concerning  it.  Though  he 
himself  had  no  direct  share  in  the  settlement  of  Ply- 
mouth, yet  without  doubt  it  was  owing  to  the  interest 
which  had  been  awakened  by  his  writings  and  per- 
sonal exertions,  that  the  ranks  of  the  colonists  were 
so  soon  swelled  by  those  accessions  of  men  of  char- 
acter and  substance,  which  gave  them  encouragement 
and  insured  them  prosperity  and  success.  It  was 
the  peculiar  good  fortune  of  Captain  Smith  to  stand 
in  so  interesting  a relation  to  the  two  oldest  states  in 
the  union,  and  through  them  to  the  northern  and 
southern  sections  of  the  country.  The  debt  of  grat- 
itude due  to  him  is  national  and  American,  and  so 
should  his  glory  be.  Wherever  upon  this  continent 
the  English  language  is  spoken,  his  deeds  should  be 
recounted,  and  his  memory  hallowed.  His  services 
should  not  only  be  not  forgotten,  but  should  be  ‘ freshly 
remembered.’  His  name  should  not  only  be  honored 
by  the  silent  canvas  and  the  cold  marble,  but  his 
praises  should  dwell  living  upon  the  lips  of  men,  and 
should  be  handed  down  by  fathers  to  their  children. 
Poetry  has  imagined  nothing  more  stirring  and  ro- 
mantic than  his  life  and  adventures,  and  History, 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH. 


-1 


261 

upon  her  ample  page,  has  recorded  few  more  honor- 
able and  spotless  names.5’ 

Having  transplanted  this  well-deserved  eulogy 
in  prose,  we  shall  conclude  our  cursory  memoir 
of  this  admirable  character  by  a few  specimens 
of  the  poetical  laudation  which  he  received  from 
those  who  flourished  contemporaneously  with 
himself.  They  not  only  serve  to  display  the 
general  esteem  in  which  he  was  held,  but  they 
also  exhibit  the  rude  but  expressive  style  of 
composition  which  distinguished  the  age  in  which 
he  lived.  It  was  then  the  custom  to  welcome 
the  appearance  of  a successful  author  with  ode 
and  sonnet;  and  the  extracts  which  follow  are 
from  some  of  the  occasional  tributes  paid  to  his 
works : 

TO  MY  WORTHY  FRIEND,  CAPTAINS  IOHN  SMITH. 

Two  greatest  Shires  of  England  did  thee  beare, 
Renowned  Yorkshire,  Gaunt-stild  Lancashire; 

But  what’s  all  this  ? even  Earth,  Sea,  Heaven  above, 
Tragabigzanda,  Callamata’s  love, 

Deare  Pocahontas,  Madam  Shanoi’s  too, 

Who  did  what  love  with  modesty  could  doe, 

Record  thy  worth,  thy  birth,  which,  as  I live, 

Even  in  thy  reading  such  choice  solace  give, 

As  I could  wish,  (such  wishes  would  doe  well) 

Many  such  Smiths  in  this  our  Israel. 

R.  BRATHWAIT. 

TO  MY  NOBLE  BROTHER  AND  FRIEND,  CAPTAINE  IOHN  SMITH 
Thou  hast  a course  full  of  honour  runne, 

Envy  may  snarle,  as  dogges  against  the  Sunne 
May  barke,  not  bite : for  what  deservedly 
With  thy  life’s  danger,  valour,  pollicy, 

Quaint  warlike  stratagems,  ability 

And  judgment,  thou  hast  got,  fame  sets  so  high 


262 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


Detraction  cannot  reach  : thy  worth  shall  stand 
A patterne  to  succeeding-  acres,  and, 

Cloth’d  in  thy  owne  lines,  ever  shall  adde  grace 
Vnto  thy  native  country  and  thy  race; 

And  when  dissolv’d,  laid  in  thy  mother’s  wombe; 

These,  Caesar-like,  Smith’s  Epitaph  and  tombe. 

ANTHONY  FEREBY. 

TO  HIS  APPROVED  FRIEND,  THE  AUTHOR,  CAPTAIXE  IOHN 
SMITH. 

The  old  Greeke  Bard,  counts  him  the  onely  man, 

Who  knows  strang-e  Countries,  like  his  Ithacan, 

And  wise,  as  valiant,  by  his  observation, 

Can  tell  the  severall  eustorne3  of  each  Nation. 

All  these  are  met  in  thee.  Who  will  not  then 
Repute  thee  in  the  ranke  of  worthiest  men? 

To  th’  Westerne  world  to  former  times  unknowne, 

Thy  active  spirit  hath  thy  valour  showne : 

The  Turks  and  Tartars  both  can  testifie, 

Thee  t’  have  deserv’d  a Captaine’s  dig-nity; 

But  verse  thou  need’st  not  to  express  thy  worth, 

Thy  acts,  this  booke  doe  plainly  set  it  forth. 

M.  CARTNER. 

IN  THE  DESERVED  HONOUR  OF  THE  AUTHOR,  CAPTAIXE  IOHN 
SMITH  AND  HIS  WORKE. 

Damn’d  Envie  is  a sprite,  that  ever  haunts 
Beasts,  mis-nam’d  Men;  Cowards,  or  ig-norants. 

But,  onely  such  shee  followes,  whose  deare  worth 
(Mauerre  her  malice)  sets  their  glory  forth. 

If  this  faire  Ouerture,  then,  take  not,  it 
Is  Envie’s  spight  (deare  friend)  in  men  of  wit; 

Or  Feare,  lest  morsels,  which  our  mouths  possesse, 

Might  fall  from  thence ; or  else,  tis  Sottishnesse. 

If  either,  (I  hope  neither)  thee  they  raise; 

Thy  Letters*  are  as  Letters  in  thy  praise; 

Who,  by  their  vice  improue  (when  they  reprooue) 

Thy  vertue;  so,  in  hate,  procure  thee  Loue. 

Then,  on  firme  WTorth,  this  Monument  I frame; 
Scorning  for  any  Smith  to  forge  such  fame. 

IOHN  DAUIES,  Hertf \ 

* Hinder ers. 


CAPTAIN  JOHN  SMITH.  f 263 


TO  HIS  WORTHY  CAPTAINE  THE  AUTHOR. 

That  which  wee  call  the  subject  of  all  Storie, 

Is  Truth : which  in  this  Worke  of  thine  giues  glorie 
To  all  that  thou  ha3t  done.  Then  scorne  the  spight 
Of  Envie;  which  doth  no  man’s  Merits  right. 

My  sword  may  helpe  the  rest : my  Pen  no  more 
Can  doe,  but  this  : I’aue  said  enough  before. 

Your  sometime  Souldier, 

I.  CODR1NTON,  now  Templer. 

IN  THE  DESERTED  HONOUR  OE  MY  HONEST  AND  WORTHY 
CAPTAINE,  IOHN  SMITH,  AND  HIS  WORKE. 
Captaine  and  Friend : when  I pervse  thy  Booke 
(With  Judgement’s  eyes)  into  thy  heart  I looke : 

And  there  I finde  (what  sometimes  Albion  knew) 

A Souldier,  to  his  Countrie’s  honor,  true. 

Some  fight  for  wealth;  and  some  lor  emptie  praise  ; 

But  thou  alone  thy  Countrie’s  Fame  to  raise. 

With  due  discretion , and  vndaunted  heart , 

I (oft)  so  well  haue  seene  thee  act  thy  part 
In  deepest  plunge  of  hard  extreamitie, 

As  forc’t  the  troups  of  proudest  foes  to  flie. 

Though  men  of  greater  Ranke  and  lesse  desert 
Would  Pish- away  thy  Praise,  it  can  not  start 

From  the  true  Owner:  for  all  good  men’s  tongues 
Shall  keepe  the  same.  To  them  that  Part  belongs. 

If,  then,  Wit,  Courage,  and  Successe  should  get 
Thee  Fame;  the  Muse  for  that  is  in  thy  debt : 

A part  whereof  (least  able  though  I be) 

Thus  here  I doe  disburse,  to  honor  thee. 

RALEIGH  CRASHAW. 


TO  THAT  WORTHY  AND  GENEROUS  GENTLEMAN,  MY  YERY 
GOOD  FRIEND,  CAPTAINE  SMITH. 

May  Fate  thy  Project  prosper,  that  thy  name 
My  be  eternized  with  liuing  fame: 

Though  foule  Detraction  Honour  would  peruert, 

And  Enuie  euer  waits  vpon  desert : 

In  spight  of  Pelias  when  his  hate  lies  cold, 

Returne  as  Iason  with  a fleece  of  gold. 


264 


LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF 


Then  after  ages  shall  record  thy  praise, 

That  a New-Ensrland  to  this  He  didst  raise: 

And  when  thou  di’st  (as  all  that  liue  must  die) 

Thy  fame  liue  here  ; thou,  with  Eternity. 

R.  GUNNELL. 

TO  MY  HONEST  CAPTAINE,  THE  AUTHOR. 
Malignant  Times  ! What  can  be  said  or  done, 

But  shall  be  censur’d  and  traduced  by  some! 

This  worthy  Worke,  which  thou  hast  bought  so  deare, 
Ne  thou,  nor  it,  Detractors  need  to  feare. 

Thy  words  by  deeds  so  long  thou  hast  approu’d, 

Of  thousands  know  thee  not  thou  art  belou’d. 

And  this  great  Plot  will  make  thee  ten  times  more 
Knowne  and  belou’d,  than  ere  thou  wert  before. 

I neuer  knew  a Warrier  yet,  but  thee, 

From  wine,  tobacco,  debts,  dice,  oaths,  so  free. 

I call  thee  Warrier:  and  I make  the  bolder; 

For,  many  a Captaine  now,  was  neuer  Souldier. 

Some  such  may  swell  at  this : but  (to  their  praise) 

When  they  haue  done  like  thee,  my  Muse  shall  raise 
Their  due  deserts  to  Worthies  yet  to  come, 

To  liue  like  thine  (admir’d)  till  day  of  Doome. 

Your  true  friend,  sometimes  your  souldier, 

THO.  CARLTON. 


THE  END. 


